BajaNomad - Those 3000 Soldiers Have Created Military Checkpoint Traffic Hell Around TJ

Those 3000 Soldiers Have Created Military Checkpoint Traffic Hell Around TJ

bajabound2005 - 1-3-2007 at 07:30 PM

Made run from Ensenada to the border today. We got to the northbound border crossing at San Ysidro at 11:00 am. We were across in 16 minutes! On the way, we noticed a HUGE southbound traffic jam on not quite the toll road but where the Mexical/Tecate highway meets up with the Rosarito/Ensenada highway. This is before the first toll road. Then we saw a military check point set up and they had the southbound road closed down to one lane. When we returned from our trip to San Diego at approximately 3:00 p.m. it was backed up way beyond the merge of those 2 roads. When we finally got to the check point they had waved everyone through except one poor guy in his late model silver mustang. They were going over it with a fine tooth comb while he kept his cool standing by. Then as we continued on to the toll road, we saw another new one set up on the northbound side, and several more enroute including one group towing a boat. We were wondering if the nice new road from Otay to Rosarito has the same "delays". Anyway, this new method of "battling crime" in TJ cost us a good hour in stop and go traffic. So, beware to all headed this way in the next few weeks! Be prepared.

[Edited on 1-4-2007 by bajabound2005]

[Edited on 1-4-2007 by bajabound2005]

GGGGGGGREAT!

woody with a view - 1-3-2007 at 07:34 PM

bajabound2005 - 1-3-2007 at 07:41 PM

Oh, Woody, you'd better be on the road in the wee hours Saturday to make the most of your trip! Lo siento! But, at least now you can prepare for the worst and hope for the best! Bien viaje!

[Edited on 1-4-2007 by bajabound2005]

BajaGuera - 1-3-2007 at 08:50 PM

Took the Rosarito/Otay road northbound today - just as you reported - long back up southbound at two points and it looked liked they were setting up northbound too.

bajabound2005 - 1-3-2007 at 09:38 PM

okay, so there's no way around this...prepare our fellow nomads!

fdt - 1-3-2007 at 10:12 PM

Did the same thing went to US at about 10 and returned at about 1PM did 20 minutes and also noticed that the exits for Playas were blocked off but by city police. Other than that Tijuana traffic was fine.

bajamigo - 1-4-2007 at 09:33 AM

But seriously, if the purpose of the new checkpoints is to capture criminals, are the outlaws in Mexico so stupid that they would use a road where there's been a military presence all day? It would be analogous to CHP announcing sobriety checks at Hollywood and Vine and continuing at the same location for a few days. Sure would net a ton a of drunks.

bajabk - 1-4-2007 at 11:30 AM

I just heard about this new road from Rosarito to Otay - I understand it is near the Fox Studios. Is the turn-off clearly marked on the toll road? We will be returning for a short visit to the states in February and it sounds like the way to go to cut off some time going through TJ. Anyone know any specifics? Thanks for any info. BK

BajaGuera - 1-4-2007 at 01:15 PM

The new Otay road doesn't have an off/on ramp from the toll road yet. Could be anyday by the looks of things -at least on the northbound side. We had to go up to Rosarito, then head back south on the free road. I don't remember it being that well marked on the Rosarito side - but coming into TJ the road is well marked and the Otay crossing easy to spot.

JESSE - 1-4-2007 at 02:22 PM

Checkpoints are worthless, i really hope they have something better up their sleeve. And i don't like the fact that Tijuana Police are working side by side with the feds and military, because you can bet they are informing someone else about everything.

I want to see arrest warrants for narcos, crop destruction in the Ensenada valleys, and dozens of Tijuana police and State agents arrested and sent to jail.

DENNIS - 1-4-2007 at 04:29 PM

Yes sir ---
What about the private Zoos in the Guadalupe Valley? The exotic animals favored by cartel bosses? Just like the collection of animals owned by Jorge Hank Rhon?
Why are they on the roads when they know where the real target is?
What a bunch of theatrics.
Mexico is just like Iraq. The enemy is stronger than the government.

Oh well, the government is who invited them in so they would add their riches to an impoverished treasury, De La Madrid style. It was a good idea at first but the governmnt lost control.
So ... Mexico has an active, violent insurgency. Christo Akbah.

DENNIS - 1-4-2007 at 04:37 PM

By the way.....

Jesse refered to the valleys around Ensenada. Valle De Trinidad is a war zone and has been for years. Evidently not a war worth winning for the government but, a war worth playing with. A good source of revenue for all sides.
What an effing joke.

Hook - 1-4-2007 at 05:27 PM

Just got back from two weeks on the mainland as far south as Mazatlan.

Only three military checkpoints in the 700 or so miles between the border and Maz. Only stopping cars headed north in the usual Baja fashion. At these points, we saw lines of semi trailer trucks that were literally 1-2 miles long. But passenger cars, including us, were being waved through without even a word of inquiry.

But the DHS boys at the border were certainly taking the job seriously. three hour wait at Nogales, mid-day, mid week.

Minnow - 1-4-2007 at 05:38 PM

Hook, what road you take. We did 15 as far south as Los Mochis. Into the central valley, and over to keno bay.

Yeah, how about that 15 north. Baja people have no idea what a check point back up is. :lol:

two miles of tractors, easy, 100 miles south of Nogales.

Jesse, you have been to the Real Cantu? :lol:

Why would you grow it anywhere else, and then have to make it across all those checkpoints. :?:

bancoduo - 1-4-2007 at 06:08 PM

I think you are referring to agriculture and commerce checkpoints. Nothing to do with drugs.

[Edited on 1-5-2007 by bancoduo]

Minnow - 1-4-2007 at 06:14 PM

Nope! There was all of those and the worst was the Military checkpoint as described by Hook and Myself. It is funny you think we don't know the difference. :lol:

bancoduo - 1-4-2007 at 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Minnow
Nope! There was all of those and the worst was the Military checkpoint as described by Hook and Myself. It is funny you think we don't know the difference. :lol:

I thought you might be confused. Kinda like going to Kino bay from Los mochis. Did you mean Topolobambo. You could have been loaded up on yaqui juice. Just tryng to help. :lol:

fdt - 1-4-2007 at 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fdt
Did the same thing went to US at about 10 and returned at about 1PM did 20 minutes and also noticed that the exits for Playas were blocked off but by city police. Other than that Tijuana traffic was fine.

here is why it was blocked in the morning
http://www.frontera.info/galerias/homeNew.aspx?numgaleria=56...
4 permanent roadblocks are set up, Playas, free road to Rosarito and El Refugio on the free road to Tecate, the 4th will be random on the toll road Ensenada/Tijuana
http://www.frontera.info/edicionenlinea/fotos/Otras/92701.jp...

Minnow - 1-4-2007 at 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bancoduo

I thought you might be confused. Kinda like going to Kino bay from Los mochis. Did you mean Topolobambo. You could have been loaded up on yaqui juice. Just tryng to help. :lol:

Yeah, you can't get there from there. :lol:

What was the Christmas dinner like at the public library? :lol:

Hook - 1-4-2007 at 07:26 PM

We took 15D down and were pretty apalled at the cost of the tolls for a simple two-axle vehicle. On the way back we took a chance on the free road from Maz to Culiacan and that road is excellent and saved us over 20.00US in tolls. Some trucks on the libre road but lots of stretches to pass. The toll plaza east of Guaymas is also easy to avoid by taking the free road through Empalme. It skirts the eastern edge of Guaymas and is very easy.

Did a sidetrip to Topolobampo from Los Mochis. Topo has to be the graffitti capital of the world. Seriously blighted area; we didnt even stop after being turned around at the controlled access to the port area. Did eat at one of the many stands just outside of Los Mochis on the road to Topo.

Also hit Alamos and spent the night in the camper on a street just off the cathedral square. Very quiet town but hard to find a good bar. Eventually found one at the Hotel Los Tesoros. Ordered margs and struck up a conversation with some longtime retirees who said we had inadvertently found the best margaritas in town. Muy fuerte and the house pour was Hornitos.

Had lunch at a park in Ciudad Obregon. Very pleasant city, really very clean. You could live cheap in C.O.

Sallysouth - 1-4-2007 at 07:42 PM

Ok , so I have a question that I am hoping someone might be able to answer here.So far, reading this post and replies,there seems to be no directions to get to the new road going to Otay from the toll road.My hubby just called from Ensenada and said there are military everywhere, roadblocks all over.They are coming home (So Cal) in the AM and I am really hoping to be able to give them directions to the "new" road that goes to Otay.Anyone??? :?:

fdt - 1-4-2007 at 07:49 PM

There is no entrance to Boulevard 2000 (the new road) from the toll road, only from the free road right by Foxploration(Fox Studios Baja) goes east and finishes right by the toll booth Tijuana Tecate at Otay.

bajaguy - 1-4-2007 at 07:52 PM

My suggestion is to get off of the toll road (northbound) at Puerto Nuevo, follow the free road north, and pick up the new road just north of the Fox Baja studios. There is no exit onto the new road from the toll road.

bajabound2005 - 1-4-2007 at 07:53 PM

Sallysouth, if you are coming from Otay -- and this was by the seat of my pants in late Oct; follow the signs toward the airport. When you get to a T with airport in front of you go left...then just follow the signs that say "Rosarito/Ensenada". Buena suerte.

woody with a view - 1-4-2007 at 07:53 PM

at the otay end what is the best directions to navigate into the border lanes?

bajabound2005 - 1-4-2007 at 07:56 PM

Yup, we saw the ambulances, firetrucks, etc., including the gurney with a body and the sheet over it...that just helped back up traffic even more; that was on our way northbound that morning. Very sad...drive defensively mis amigos.

Quote:

Originally posted by fdt

Quote:

Sallysouth - 1-4-2007 at 08:08 PM

Thanks ftd and bajaguy, I just relayed the info to the guys (down there working at the ICU factory) and they say "muchas gracias"!! :spingrin:

bancoduo - 1-5-2007 at 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Minnow

Quote:

Originally posted by bancoduo

I thought you might be confused. Kinda like going to Kino bay from Los mochis. Did you mean Topolobambo. You could have been loaded up on yaqui juice. Just tryng to help. :lol:

Yeah, you can't get there from there. :lol:

What was the Christmas dinner like at the public library? :lol:

Very good; except for the Minnow tacos

Feds in Tijuana

xborder - 1-5-2007 at 02:29 PM

It appears - keyword 'appears' - that Calderon is serious about securing Tijuana by 'surging' the number of troops on the streets to check cars/occupants, standing down the municipal force by taking their weapons, and checking the weapons for use/ballistics in relationship to recent homocides. We'll see if anything of interest pops up from the efforts. Looks like a worthwhile operation if it's the beginning of a larger campaign.

Minnow - 1-5-2007 at 03:42 PM

Quote:

Very good; except for the Minnow tacos

They need to be deep fried whole to be edible, much like a grunion. :lol:

Bajamatic - 1-5-2007 at 09:22 PM

so am I hearing this right? Major backups heading southbound out of TJ? Any reports on northbound backups?

jettygirl - 1-7-2007 at 02:17 PM

any new updates on the above checkpoints???
have a friend headed south in the next day and would appreciate any new news.
many thanks.

bajabound2005 - 1-7-2007 at 02:44 PM

They were still there as of Friday night.

jettygirl - 1-7-2007 at 03:15 PM

Thanks Bajabound for the update.
Looks like he is in for a long wait through the area. :no:

woody with a view - 1-9-2007 at 12:38 PM

still there as of monday night. LLLOOOOOOOONG line of traffic jammed headed south from the checkpoint before playas exit up the hill and back down hill along the border fence. 2 miles of stopped cars at 8pm. border wait = 20 minutes!!!

p.s. northbound was business as usual at all the usual spots.

[Edited on 1-9-2007 by woody in ob]

DanO - 1-9-2007 at 12:49 PM

Ditto what Woody said, from Saturday night -- major lineup southbound backed up from a check point at Playas. Nothing unusual northbound. SENTRI was (gasp!) 8 minutes.

Also, the inspection northbound at Santo Tomas was the most thorough I've had in a long time. Poking and prodding of vehicle and contents, questions about who's married to whom, whose kids those are, what's in the plastic bags, etc.

The Gull - 1-9-2007 at 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody in ob
at the otay end what is the best directions to navigate into the border lanes?

You don't navigate. If you make the only turn off the road, it will be a right hand turn just west, past the McDonald's. There is the sign Garita de Otay pointing to the right. Once you turn, you are going straight for the lanes.

bajarich - 1-12-2007 at 02:36 PM

What's going on with the military checkpoints in TJ? Are there still long lines and 2-hour waits? I hope it gets better soon!

SDRonni - 1-12-2007 at 06:58 PM

Yeah, what's up with that? Is it still going on?

Natalie Ann - 1-12-2007 at 07:21 PM

Drove yesterday to Ensenada.... one military checkpoint by la playas, no back up, wave through for me and all other vehicles. Real quick trip south.

Smooth trip is good

Sharksbaja - 1-12-2007 at 07:48 PM

and obviously you remembered yer ID?

bajabound2005 - 1-13-2007 at 12:25 PM

We went from San Diego to Ensenada on Wednesday 1/10 and there were 2 checkpoints: one at La Playa de TJ and the other (Marines) just after the first toll booth. The TJ checkpoint, they seems to have worked out the kinks. They keep both lanes open now so the traffic jams are tolerable now.

Pstreet1 - 1-20-2007 at 09:33 AM

The checkpoint on the free road in Rosarito Beach does move around. Last night it was in front of Santini's; it's not there today, and it wasn't there during the day yesterday.

For the person looking for directions to the new road to Otay, the poster who advised getting off the toll road at Puerto Neuvo was correct. Once you are north bound on the free road, the turn for the the Otay road is very clearly marked with a large over the road sign.