So I was driving on the nice new extra wide 11-12 miles of road that is south of El Rosario the other day. I thought to myself wouldn't it be great
if it was like this all the way. Obviously nicer roads would lead to more people which the locals would love and need, but would make the places we
love for their sloitude a little less quiet.
However my real question is this, I thought about it as I hit 80 MPH before I realized where I was driving and slowed way down.
If the road was like that all the way down would it be more or less dangerous? Obviously wider and smoother is better and would give us more room to
avoid the trucks and buses but wider and smoother would also mean faster and drivers that are paying less attention to what is going on arounf them.
Would the faster speeds people would drive cancel out the benifit of the nicer road? What do you guys think?tripledigitken - 4-16-2009 at 03:00 PM
I'll vote for the wider road. It would be safer inspite of the increased speeds that some would travel.
KenFred - 4-16-2009 at 03:03 PM
More speed=More wrecks=More slow-downswoody with a view - 4-16-2009 at 03:13 PM
it's the escalera nautica. only they started in the wrong place. it will never finish in my lifetime, i hope!shari - 4-16-2009 at 03:13 PM
tourists tend to drive fast anyway...narrow or wide roads...so wider roads=faster driving=more speeding tickets but fewer accidents I figure if the
road is wider...a bit more margin for error.
[Edited on 4-17-2009 by shari]Bajahowodd - 4-16-2009 at 04:59 PM
The terrain will limit speeds in certain areas. Just South of El Rosario, the work they've done really takes a bit of the peril out of the drive. But
since it still has steep hills and sharp curves, I don't know that there will be an appreciable increase in speed. Further South, there are many long,
flat sections, that considering the low volume of traffic, will always be an invitation to speed. From my own personal experience, it seems that my
top speed slowly increases heading South, so when I get on that last straightaway into Guerrero Negro, Jeez! Just want to get somewhere and rest.DianaT - 4-16-2009 at 05:18 PM
Wider roads---less stress. Where they have just pushed the dirt up to make a small shoulder, even that makes it safer.
JMHO----desertcpl - 4-16-2009 at 05:21 PM
I think it is normal not to change the status quo,,, I would be guility of that also,, but I would be in favor of wider roads and more turn outs,, I
think it would do wonders for tourism in baja,, it would bring in much needed money to areas in baja that is really needed at this time,, even if
after all the bad news about the drug cartels and crime this could bring a much needed boost.TMW - 4-16-2009 at 06:06 PM
I would prefer a wider road too. What ever happened to the toll road that was proposed several years ago between Cabo and Ensenada. A private company
was mentioned as the builders. I believe it was the same company that built the TJ to Mexicali toll road.bajario - 4-16-2009 at 06:20 PM
I was thinking the same thoughts last week on my return trip from Loreto. The road is nice. It does let you ease your grip on the wheel for a bit and
actually relax. I don't know if that would be a good thing for the entire trip. The way the rest of the road is I believe makes me concentrate on very
little but staying on the road and harms way. A big wide road the whole way may let me get too comfortable. I bet a road like that would greatly
increase tourist traffic. I for one am fine w/ the existing road. I hope I don't come to regret saying that.4baja - 4-16-2009 at 06:49 PM
i think you answerd yourself dont you?fixtrauma - 4-16-2009 at 06:58 PM
I would opt for the wider road. Even though others may increase speed through there, I would still have the option to maintain a safe speed at the
same time allow for a relaxing of the steering wheel grip.Leo - 4-16-2009 at 07:58 PM
Wider roads might be easier, but they loose its charm of driving Baja.
Thank you, but no thanks for widening and attracting more traffic at higher speed.fishbuck - 4-16-2009 at 08:05 PM
I'm sure I'll be shot for saying this but I prefer the wider better roads so I can drive faster.
I'm usually limited on time and going to a specific place so I don't care much for looking at scenery.
Better passing zones too!Skipjack Joe - 4-16-2009 at 10:00 PM
wider road = more traffic = more people = faster growth
Leave road as is!
country road -> two lane highway -> wider highway -> four lane highway -> goodbye baja
Think ahead.David K - 4-16-2009 at 10:08 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
wider road = more traffic = more people = faster growth
Leave road as is!
country road -> two lane highway -> wider highway -> four lane highway -> goodbye baja
Think ahead.
Yah, like they should have done that pre-1973... when they paved a road down the peninsula! The fact is they did pave a road... and did it so cheaply
that only now are they making it safe for truck and trailers to use... People shouldn't die because there is a semi on their side of the road because
it is impossible for it to stay out of the opposite lane.
Now, if we only had a 'Way Back Machine'... this is the trans-peninsular main road to La Paz, north of Cataviņa:
DianaT - 4-16-2009 at 10:38 PM
As always, the responses to these type of threads are self-serving and don't take into consideration the people of Baja.
My response was about how WE feel less stress with a wider road, the emphasis on WE.
Then as I read other responses lamenting the changes and wanting to turn the clock back, well once again, it is about gringos and there needs and
wants. Ah, the old primitive Baja which we could visit, and then return to another world.
There is no doubt in my mind that a wider improved road will be a great benefit to the locals who travel it often. And, it may bring more business
their way.
Living much of the time in Baja has really changed my perspective. So, besides feeling safer, I hope the road improvements continue for the benefit
of the Mexicans, and the visitors will just need to adjust, or not. Some seem to think that Baja is simply there as a playground for gringos wanting
to escape into the wilderness.
It many ways it is like the paving of the road to Bahia Asuncion---for some selfish reasons, we wish it would never be completed. On the other hand,
living there and needing to drive in and out often, we understand why most of the locals look forward to all pavement.
JMHO
Diane
[Edited on 4-17-2009 by jdtrotter]Bajahowodd - 4-16-2009 at 10:50 PM
Frankly, I have always wondered why the road they paved ended up criss-crossing Baja so many times. I fully understand that the existing dirt road
connected many villages. But I just don't get the road South of El Rosario. It's not like Catavina was a bustling burg. Why didn't they develop a road
South from El Rosario that stayed on the Pacific Coast toward Guerrero Negro? If they truly wish to develop tourism, they need to provide alternatives
to a highway that bounces back and forth from Pacific to Sea of Cortez, and back. Supposedly, there are plans to have a paved road from San Ignacio
down to Insurgientes. We'll see. perhaps the greatest problem is that historically, as far as Mexico was concerned, Baja was a step child. Example-
Fontera plates.
