BajaNomad

Hwy. 5 pavement south of Gonzaga Bay Reports (2007 to 2016 added)

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ehall - 12-23-2015 at 02:50 PM

Quote: Originally posted by RenoJoe  
So I'm assuming to stay to the left an don't go on the new highway because its not done yet?


That is correct.

PaulW - 12-23-2015 at 04:02 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  


ASUNCION? Gonzaga, right?
====
Nope
So, at Las Arrastras, where the Coco's Bypass begins, you must have gone straight instead of curved to the left for Coco's Corner?
=====
At theBig sign = Go right for the construction road. Go left to get to Coco's direct.
- - -
David,
San Felipe to Baja Asuncion 2 nights there then on to Punta Abreojos Got stuck on the low road. Towed my son out of the mud and continued on the high road. On to San Ignacio for 2 nights. Goal is Del Cabo via all the dirt we can do with two 4x4 big trucks.
Record tides full moon and solstice. Low road are top be avoided
PW

rts551 - 12-24-2015 at 05:41 PM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  


ASUNCION? Gonzaga, right?
====
Nope
So, at Las Arrastras, where the Coco's Bypass begins, you must have gone straight instead of curved to the left for Coco's Corner?
=====
At theBig sign = Go right for the construction road. Go left to get to Coco's direct.
- - -
David,
San Felipe to Baja Asuncion 2 nights there then on to Punta Abreojos Got stuck on the low road. Towed my son out of the mud and continued on the high road. On to San Ignacio for 2 nights. Goal is Del Cabo via all the dirt we can do with two 4x4 big trucks.
Record tides full moon and solstice. Low road are top be avoided
PW



Do not listen to people with old road instructions. I have been trying to warn people for a year about the flooded lower road.

CortezBlue - 12-24-2015 at 08:35 PM

Wait for it.....
Wait.........

Wait.....................

David K - 4-3-2016 at 10:05 AM

In one year and three months, not one inch of new pavement has been opened to travel. All the effort the past 15 months has been centered on the bridges and mountain leveling.

A recent drone video seems to show a few more kilometers may be opening soon (perhaps as far as Las Arrastras).

Here is a recap from page one of this Jan. 2015 thread on the progress from Puertecitos south since 2007:




In Nov. 2006, the new pavement had not yet reached Puertecitos, the highway from the late 1980's was all broken and mostly gone (too thin).

Beginning about 2002, they started repaving the road south from San Felipe and by 2005 they were halfway done. In Feb. 2007 it had reached Puertecitos, but nothing new south of town.

My next trip south of Puertecitos was in Sept. 2008, and the Y junction (Km. 74) was in place and the new pavement routed above town, extended for 2 miles from the junction. Exactly when this was opened, I don't know, but perhaps it was all built in 2008, so I can guess at a Jan. 2008 as a start date for now. It is Jan. 2014 and in 6 full years, 60 miles of paved highway has been built and opened. 10 miles a year average progress to date... up from the earlier rate of 6-7 miles a year.


================================================================


Here is the distance of paved road open from Puertecitos junction south:

In Feb. 2007: 0 miles
=======================================================






On Sept. 1, 2008: 2 miles...


========================================================


On Jan. 1, 2009: 4 miles.
[4 months added 2 miles.]
=======================================================


On July 19, 2010: 18.5 miles...
[1 year, 7 months added 16.5 miles.]





==========================================================


On July 15, 2012: 32.3 miles (Km. 126+), 15 miles north of Gonzaga Pemex...
[2 years added 13.8 miles.]


========================================================
Pemex San Luis Gonzaga at Km. 150, 47.1 miles from Puertecitos Jcn. (Km. 74).
=============================================================

From TW, Mar., 2014: 2 miles south of Pemex. (49 mi. from Puertecitos). Photo from Mando, looking north to Pemex from end of pavement:
[1 year and 8 months added 17 miles.]


=======================================================


From StuckSucks, Nov. 2014: Km. 154 (2.4 miles south of Pemex, ~51 from Puertecitos):
[8 months added 2 miles.]


=======================================================

Jan. 8, 2015 report: Pavement ends at Km. 170.5, 12.7 miles south of Pemex (Km. 150), 60 miles from Puertecitos junction (Km. 74).



BooJumMan - 4-26-2016 at 10:29 AM

Curious.... for those with dirt capable vehicles and no trailer, about how long does it take to drive the dirt section?

Does anyone know the approximate time it takes from San Felipe to Rancho Grande pemex?

Leaving Mexicali 6am and hoping to get to the Pemex before they close for siesta! :D

[Edited on 4-26-2016 by BooJumMan]

[Edited on 4-26-2016 by BooJumMan]

David K - 4-26-2016 at 10:43 AM

.75-1.5 hours for 23 mile dirt section (if not racing).
San Felipe to Rancho Grande: ~95 miles is about 2 hours (as the first 50 miles to Puertecitos has numerous, steep vados one must take slowly.
Rancho Grande does not close for siesta. The Pemex (owned by Alfonsina's, just north of and across the highway from Rancho Grande) does.

RenoJoe - 4-26-2016 at 10:45 AM

I'm Driving that way today in my 32 foot M/H towing my Samari. In January it took 2 & 1/2 hours being careful. I am hoping it will be better this time if I air down first and fill up in Chapala.

chuckie - 4-26-2016 at 10:53 AM

Let us know, please, if the service at the Coco's Starbucks has improved...Rumors were it was over 8 minutes just to get a simple latte, and the wifi was quite slow...Not acceptable!

BooJumMan - 4-26-2016 at 11:36 AM

Thanks I appreciate the info. I've got 3 days only so just trying to plan out my trip a little.

Chuckie - funny, I hate being "that guy" ...:(

[Edited on 4-26-2016 by BooJumMan]

chuckie - 4-26-2016 at 02:23 PM

Have a great trip!!!! First cup at the new Starbucks is on me....I enjoy your closer....

Progress?

John M - 4-26-2016 at 04:43 PM

Drove Highway 1 at Chapala to Gonzaga two days ago. The dirt portion from Highway 1 to the base of the hills - maybe 4 or 5 miles is in much better shape, smoother as it appears part of it may be the new road and so some grading work has been done. DON'T BE TEMPTED TO DRIVE ON THE BLOCKED OFF PORTION OF THE NEW ROAD ON THIS FEW MILE LONG SECTION!!! Just as you approach the numerous culverts there is a narrow but horrid space between the roadway and the culvert, at night or at speed you might not see it, and oops a gap of two feet between the end of the dirt roadway and the culvert - it could ruin your day.

Once into the hills you'll be on a much improved and fairly smooth road surface for 4 maybe 5 miles - then it's the same old crap for the last 4 miles into Coco's. Took us 45 minutes for the 13 or so miles from Highway 1 to Cocos.

Then back on the dirt for ten miles - only marginally improved in a few places. Slow going.

By the way, Coco wasn't home - we were told he is in Ensenada with doctor visits. Home this week maybe Wednesday.

John M

David K - 4-26-2016 at 07:57 PM

Thanks John!

bkbend - 4-27-2016 at 09:02 AM

There are a lot of potholes now in the 25 or so miles north of Puertecitos. You cannot dodge them all and I had to slow down enough to make the vados a non-event.

RenoJoe - 7-10-2016 at 06:39 PM

Did the dirt get shorter yet?

Bajazly - 7-11-2016 at 08:50 AM

Quote: Originally posted by RenoJoe  
Did the dirt get shorter yet?





Not as of a month ago. Coco said all work had stopped because of money issues and when we went thru, there were a few people but not much was going on.

TMW - 7-11-2016 at 08:57 AM

Same as of June 26th. It's about 9/10 miles south of Gonzaga Bay where the pavement ends to Cocos and about 13 miles from Cocos to Hwy 1.

David K - 7-11-2016 at 09:55 PM

Hi Nomads,
I was on Hwy. 5 yesterday (Sunday) all the way to Hwy. 1.
NOT ONE INCH of new pavement has been added to the section under construction in the past ~ 1.5 years (we drove it in July 2015 and it was about 6 mos. old I think then).

Crews were sitting around on site but no machines were operating except for a water on the Laguna Chapala crossing. It was Sunday, but I think I have seen them work Sundays before?

Except for maybe 3 completed bridges and the road bed across the Chapala valley, it is hardly any different, through the mountain section, than in July 2015.

We just got home tonight, so look for a full, photo-filled trip report soon!

OH, they changed the kilometer markers somewhere south of Puertecitos! The Gonzaga Pemex was Km. 150 last year, and now is Km. 147 (just south of the marker).
Pavement ends just over 20 kilometers south (Km. 167 1/2).
My odometer has the dirt from there to Coco's Corner at 9.9 miles and Coco's to Hwy. 1 at 12.6 miles. There are some small sections of new road bed you do get to drive on which lowered the overall miles by a tiny bit from my readings last year. Dirt total now 22.5 miles.



[Edited on 7-12-2016 by David K]

BigBearRider - 7-11-2016 at 11:55 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Hi Nomads,
I was on Hwy. 5 yesterday (Sunday) all the way to Hwy. 1.
NOT ONE INCH of new pavement has been added to the section under construction in the past ~ 1.5 years (we drove it in July 2015 and it was about 6 mos. old I think then).

Crews were sitting around on site but no machines were operating except for a water on the Laguna Chapala crossing. It was Sunday, but I think I have seen them work Sundays before?

Except for maybe 3 completed bridges and the road bed across the Chapala valley, it is hardly any different, through the mountain section, than in July 2015.

We just got home tonight, so look for a full, photo-filled trip report soon!

OH, they changed the kilometer markers somewhere south of Puertecitos! The Gonzaga Pemex was Km. 150 last year, and now is Km. 147 (just south of the marker).
Pavement ends just over 20 kilometers south (Km. 167 1/2).
My odometer has the dirt from there to Coco's Corner at 9.9 miles and Coco's to Hwy. 1 at 12.6 miles. There are some small sections of new road bed you do get to drive on which lowered the overall miles by a tiny bit from my readings last year. Dirt total now 22.5 miles.



[Edited on 7-12-2016 by David K]


How can you really be sure if they moved the mile marker, and not the Pemex? :lol:

chuckie - 7-12-2016 at 05:24 AM

He checks it against the Palm Tree....If it hasn't gone under water yet, nothing has changed...

mtgoat666 - 7-12-2016 at 06:32 AM

You seem to have quite an obsession with documenting this road building. Why didn't you stop in one of the several work camps and interview the workers re schedule? I usually see engineer types when I drive that road, out on the jobsite doing their field engineering things,, I am pretty sure one of them would tell you what's up.
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Hi Nomads,
I was on Hwy. 5 yesterday (Sunday) all the way to Hwy. 1.
NOT ONE INCH of new pavement has been added to the section under construction in the past ~ 1.5 years (we drove it in July 2015 and it was about 6 mos. old I think then).

Crews were sitting around on site but no machines were operating except for a water on the Laguna Chapala crossing. It was Sunday, but I think I have seen them work Sundays before?

Except for maybe 3 completed bridges and the road bed across the Chapala valley, it is hardly any different, through the mountain section, than in July 2015.

We just got home tonight, so look for a full, photo-filled trip report soon!

OH, they changed the kilometer markers somewhere south of Puertecitos! The Gonzaga Pemex was Km. 150 last year, and now is Km. 147 (just south of the marker).
Pavement ends just over 20 kilometers south (Km. 167 1/2).
My odometer has the dirt from there to Coco's Corner at 9.9 miles and Coco's to Hwy. 1 at 12.6 miles. There are some small sections of new road bed you do get to drive on which lowered the overall miles by a tiny bit from my readings last year. Dirt total now 22.5 miles.



[Edited on 7-12-2016 by David K]

David K - 7-12-2016 at 06:44 AM

I don't care what's up, just glad they are not rushing things, lol!
Seriously, it was posted on Nomad a few weeks ago that the Mexican Environmental people got worked up because a few cardón and boojum trees were not boxed and replanted that were in the way (or something like that)... Where were these folks in 1973 when the Hwy. 1 construction destroyed thousands and thousands of them?

People are interested in the progress (or lack thereof) of this highway. People enjoy Nomad when it is interesting or provides information. Not so much when Nomads put down others for what is posted.

chuckie - 7-12-2016 at 06:50 AM

What is "lol"?

David K - 7-12-2016 at 07:09 AM

Laughing Out Loud

chuckie - 7-12-2016 at 07:11 AM

Oh...

fish101 - 7-12-2016 at 10:25 AM

I don't care what others say about you David, you have been doing a great job on this Highway 5 information. Sometimes I can't believe the comments coming out of some of the older Nomads.. You must have rubbed some of them the wrong way.. Safe travels my friend..

David K - 7-12-2016 at 10:35 AM

LOL... I think they just need attention? I love Baja and I love people... most who act that way have never met me so we have never "rubbed"! LOL (laughing out loud)

Baja is a wonderful place, and a gift indeed... I have been writing about Baja since I was 15 when I published my first guide (1973). Almost 59 now, I am not changing because a few think the sharing with fellow Baja lovers is what spoils a place (rather than the easy access by modern roads and lack of appreciation for a rugged land such corridors allow).

Thank you fish101 (it was the fishing that attracted my family to Baja in the 1960s).

jack - 7-17-2016 at 06:16 PM

Keep up the good reporting David. I have been following the road construction for years now hoping it will soon be in good enough shape to pull my trailer over. So far I have been quite disappointed. It is interesting as to how many people say the road is in good enough shape right now to pull an RV over it and how many people who have done it and say they won't do it again until there is major improvements. I guess it all depends on how much abuse you figure your RV can take before it starts to fall apart.

Ken Cooke - 7-17-2016 at 08:51 PM

Quote: Originally posted by jack  
It is interesting as to how many people say the road is in good enough shape right now to pull an RV over it and how many people who have done it and say they won't do it again until there is major improvements. I guess it all depends on how much abuse you figure your RV can take before it starts to fall apart.


You can pull a Subaru and a trailer on this road!LOL

David K - 7-17-2016 at 10:29 PM

Quote: Originally posted by jack  
Keep up the good reporting David. I have been following the road construction for years now hoping it will soon be in good enough shape to pull my trailer over. So far I have been quite disappointed. It is interesting as to how many people say the road is in good enough shape right now to pull an RV over it and how many people who have done it and say they won't do it again until there is major improvements. I guess it all depends on how much abuse you figure your RV can take before it starts to fall apart.


Any rock base road will not be fun to drive on in a motorhome or towing a trailer... it just rattles stuff to death. Big shakey box of dishes!

Paved or sand based, non-washboard graded roads only!
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