BajaNomad

Monday night SNAFU on Mex 1 in Rosarito

Santiago - 12-17-2008 at 06:55 AM

Made a quick trip down last week and was coming back Monday. It started raining south of Ensenada about 3:00pm. At 4:00pm I was on Hiway 1 just north of Ensenada and had to drive very carefully as football-sized rocks were on the road or falling as I passed the cliffs. Some about 2 or 3 feet across. Pretty scary. After passing the 2nd toll booth I noticed a few cars flipped over on the south bound side, probably due to hydroplaning as there were lots of 6" deep puddles everywhere.
We came to a complete stop at 4:30 and then sat for over 90 minutes. The rain had "broken the road" up ahead. They stopped the southbound traffic, brought in a crane and moved the concrete center dividers so we could flip around and head south. Everyone was getting off on the next exit, going into Rosarito to get on the north bound free road. This moved pretty good for a few miles and then came to a screeching halt.
I flipped a u-turn and drove south on the free road for about 4 miles and picked up Blvd 2000. My intention was to drive to the Otay gate.
Driving Blvd. 2000 in the dark, with a very low cloud cover , in the rain was pretty hairy. Every dip held water or mud flows but the traffic was light. I made the Otay gate and crossing took 1 hour. All in all, the whole thing took about 3-1/2 hours from the first stop in Rosarito.
Anyone else get stuck in this or know what really happened to the Road?

woody with a view - 12-17-2008 at 07:09 AM

the conspiracy deepens!:light:

Paulina - 12-17-2008 at 08:26 AM

We've made that drive many times in that kind of weather and know that it just sucks. It sounds like you got it at it's worst. Glad you made it through, one way or another. I would have turned around and gone back south, telling dern that we weren't meant to cross the border on that day!

We're heading down Sat. At the rate roads are repaired down there, we might find out first hand what you almost ran into.

P<*)))>{

jdowning - 2-8-2009 at 09:47 AM

We had a similar drive last winter. Left from Ensenada with rain. By the time we were in TJ the primary road to the crossing was closed due to flooding. Not being familliar with TJ we got on the wrong street that dead ended into a flood by following the 'Border Crossing' sign!

Had to disconnnect our toad to turn around and a small car whose driver had a badge and spoke english stopped. He told me to get out of there as it was a bad area and gave me directions to the border. Then left. As I was finishing hooking up a beat up car with two occupants stopped behind me and they started walking towards me. I have been on the streets of many foreign cities, Hong Kong, Kaoshung, Manilla, Paris, London, and my internal alarm was sounding big time. I hopped in and drove off leaving them standing and shaking their fists at me.

Close call.

The Gull - 2-8-2009 at 09:54 AM

Heads will roll for this...

DianaT - 2-8-2009 at 09:55 AM

I did not look at the date and thought this was about the road after this current rain. :lol:

But, would like to know how the road in that area is after this current rain???

Diane

David K - 2-8-2009 at 09:57 AM

Glad you made it with the detours Jim! Gee... and you survived the Blvd. 2000 in the dark! I don't know which is more amazing!?? :rolleyes:

BajaGringo - 2-8-2009 at 11:35 AM

I have been driving Blvd 2000 more lately and have seen a lot more traffic than before. They are starting to sell homes along that road in some of the new developments that are starting up. Even saw local bus service going into one for the first time day before yesterday. My guess is that with the increased traffic this highway will become a safe and better alternative.

Even at night...

Santiago - 2-8-2009 at 01:59 PM

I was a little surprised to see this thread pop up: but I did drive it on 1/9/09 about 6pm - lots of traffic and the dirt was cleaned up. XM said 45 minute wait at Otay but was 75 minutes. Don't think I'd take this road after midnight, heh.