BajaNomad

Any recent road reports on Hwy 3?

unbob - 3-10-2009 at 08:44 AM

I plan on driving Hwy 3 from Ensenada to Tecate in a week or so. Haven't seen any reports or comments lately re the highway construction project on that road.

Anyone driven it lately? How bad is it? Are they working 7 days a week? Or just M-F/S?

I'm driving a truck with camper - not pulling a trailer (friends will be pulling a 5th wheel). Don't mind driving slow for an hour or two - I like taking it slow and easy!

Should I be "concerned"? Washboard? Potholes? Drop-offs?

Any comments appreciated!

Saludos, Rob

DENNIS - 3-10-2009 at 08:53 AM

It's probably the same. I say probably because I haven't been on it for a month and the project is big. They're widening the road in a lot of the distance between Sauzal and San Antonio. It's major surgery from a roadwork point of view.
You just have to proceed slowly. It's bad but, not that bad and I don't recommend it only because there's another option if Tecate is your destination.
Pay extra attention to the road surface when away from the reconstruction zones. It seems to be suffering from deferred maintenance I.E. some nasty potholes.

unbob - 3-10-2009 at 10:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
... I don't recommend it only because there's another option if Tecate is your destination.

Thanks Dennis!
What is the other option you referred to?

DENNIS - 3-10-2009 at 11:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by unbob
What is the other option you referred to?


HWY 1 toll road to Puerto Nuevo turn off...six miles north on free road to Blvd. 2000....up 2000 for 26 miles to the Tecate Cuota...pay 80 pesos for the 15 mile of scenic drive to Tecate...three miles through Tecate to the border crossing. It adds eight miles to your trip over HWY 3.
We very recently went through this option and variations. Let me see if I can find that thread. I'll start looking after two beers.

wiltonh - 3-10-2009 at 01:17 PM

We did this on Saturday. The first 5 miles on the highway 1 end are under heavy construction so they route you over gravel. Once that is over there are two or three other construction sites along the way but the wait is not long.

Wilton

DENNIS - 3-10-2009 at 01:53 PM

Sorry....I had four but, here ya go:

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=36944#pid3915...

Bob and Susan - 3-10-2009 at 02:16 PM

i did it a couple of weeks ago...
lots of dirt and mud...

lots of construction trucks for the frist 10 miles
then clear sailing

comming back into mexico
i crossed at otay mesa

the blvd 2000 is being worked on and there was a detour thru town
i wouldnt go that way righ now

unbob - 3-10-2009 at 04:53 PM

Mucho gracias amigos!
Doesn't sound like a "nightmare" - more like an unpleasant inconvenience. I'm gonna go for it!

Sketchy Stretch

Mulegena - 3-25-2009 at 07:34 PM

We went across Monday night Ensenada-to-Tecate in a Jeep Wrangler.

Pretty bumpy chewed up road, and with red cone markers it was sometimes challenging to see the sudden route diversions at night.

Its about 10 miles of funky-but-doable road.

Try to do it in daylight hours.