BajaNomad

HOW BAD COULD IT BE?

Udo - 8-29-2010 at 07:12 PM

I said!

So I decided to take the Tecate-Ensenada road (Mex 3).
12+ miles of dirt, combined with truck traffic.
How bad was 12 miles of dirt? Cost about 1-1/2 hours extra travel time, but the four minute wait to cross made up for a helluva lot of earlier hell.

CONCLUSION:

Last week's trip from Punta Banda was exactly the same time going home as this week's. What made me feel better was the 4 minute wait time this week.

Would I do it again?
Probably not.

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 8-29-2010 at 09:02 PM

Hola udo, if you cross at tecate going either north or south, does the blvd. 2000 that i keep reading about circumvent the construction ?

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

David K - 8-29-2010 at 09:34 PM

YES!

When you enter at Tecate, head west to Tijuana... the free road is shorter and all 4 lanes wide, with only a couple of stop lights on the west end... the toll road is longer and very pricey for such a short run... Both routes take you to the Blvd. 2000 before they enter Tijuana... Well signed for Popotla, Rosarito, BC 201, perhaps even as Mex. 2.

Northbound, use the free road from Ensenada or the toll road to Cantamar, then get on free road to Popotla where the Blvd. 2000 ends on the free road... just south of the Fox Baja Studio former site.



[Edited on 8-30-2010 by David K]

Mulegena - 8-29-2010 at 09:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
...if you cross at tecate going either north or south, does the blvd. 2000 that i keep reading about circumvent the construction ?

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT
From looking at the maps that have been posted on another recent thread, I'd say, "Yes," (can we get a solid confirmation?)

...soooo the next time I head north I'll look for the 2000 road and still head thru Tecate--

or go Mex 3 Ensenada-Tecate way but after dusk when the construction crew has gone home and traffic is lighter.

The Tecate crossing into usa is so much faster and Tecate Town so pretty.

BornFisher - 8-29-2010 at 09:39 PM

Perhaps the wait is shorter now because of the road work. Read posts from say two months or so ago. Long waits @ Tecate!!

Mulegena - 8-29-2010 at 09:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
YES!

When you enter at Tecate, head west to Tijuana... the free road is shorter and all 4 lanes wide, with only a couple of stop lights on the west end... the toll road is longer and very pricey for such a short run... Both routes take you to the Blvd. 2000 before they enter Tijuana... Well signed for Popotla, Rosarito, BC 201, perhaps even as Mex. 2.

Northbound, use the free road from Ensenada or the toll road to Cantamar, then get on free road to Popotla where the Blvd. 2000 ends on the free road... just south of the Fox Baja Studio former site.



[Edited on 8-30-2010 by David K]
Thanks!
I've finally cut & pasted this in an email to myself for quick reference.

David K - 8-29-2010 at 09:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BornFisher
Perhaps the wait is shorter now because of the road work. Read posts from say two months or so ago. Long waits @ Tecate!!


It depends on the day of the week... TUE. early evening the last two times (July 4th weekend and July 18th weekend) was 10-20 minutes... exact figures in my trip reports.

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 8-29-2010 at 11:29 PM

Hola David, thank you again for your great instructions. i really appreciate it as i'm sure do others.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

David K - 8-29-2010 at 11:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Hola David, thank you again for your great instructions. i really appreciate it as i'm sure do others.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT


El Gusto es Mio Amigo!

The Mex. 3 highway construction zone is from the Toll Highway (Mex. 2-D) overpass at Tecate to Valle de las Palmas (see map).

Bob and Susan - 8-30-2010 at 05:45 AM

getting on blvd2000 from mex1 is a little harder than it looks
first you have to get on the free road

then find the turn to go north
it's not well marked

going south is a little easier but
again when you hit the free road
you need to drive south to get to the toll road entrance

not well marked again

take the toll road south
pay the "toll" $$$

Blvd 2000

bajaguy - 8-30-2010 at 06:24 AM

Just cross at Otay........and get a SENTRI pass. No waiting, no lines

wessongroup - 8-30-2010 at 06:42 AM

Going to have to try the Otay at least once... just for the heck of it...

But, so far the longest wait we have had going across at SY was 15 minutes in the SENTRI lanes...

But, then we cross around 9 am in the morning.. sometimes we have crossed at 6 am.. if at 6 am.. have your SENTRI card out.. as they is no waiting ever...

Coming back.. we cross around 12 to 1 at lunch or mid day..

So far, all of our trips across have been really very quick.. we are so glad that we spent the time and money for SENTRI passes on both our vehicles..

The only little problem has been construction on 2nd street in TJ.. it been a while since I have gone across using 2nd street.. used the fence road the last time up.. 2nd appears to be getting finished.. will start using again.. (thanks to k-rico!!) a really great route alternative to the fence road..