BajaNomad

San Juanico South Road Construction

Desertbull - 5-9-2011 at 09:07 PM

Might as well do the North Road...cuz the South Road "so called pavement is under construction and many places no road, gravel conditions, washboard, pot holes like always but many more because they are not fixing them because they are trying to replace the road...I did both the north and the south a couple times in the past months and save yourself hours and hours and still hit washboard...just sayin' :biggrin:

baja Steve - 5-10-2011 at 06:48 AM

Try turning west just south of Bahia Concepcion and go through La Purisima. Faster and overall better roads now.

Desertbull - 5-10-2011 at 09:09 AM

Very true Steve...that cross over road is like a freeway. They have done a great job with that road in the past few months...the road base they have put down is great.

Can you believe they built retaining walls on the switchbacks above San Isidro? I had to look 5 times to confirm what I was seeing! Lol

For those that don't know the turn off for the La Purisma crossover road...it is near KM 59.5 / 60 as you drop out of the hills South if Concepcion Bay.

tiotomasbcs - 5-10-2011 at 09:27 AM

Road base?? You mean they are paving the East/West road or have they just repaired it/ graded?? Jimena must have torn it up badly! The road north to San Juanico from Insurgentes will have plenty of summer traffic very soon. Hope they get it finished, pronto. Tio

oladulce - 5-10-2011 at 11:45 AM

1 mile of washboard gravel... 1/4 mile of 2ft deep potholes... 1/2 mile washboard gravel... 1/2 mile pavement... 2 miles of washboard gravel... on and on for 65 miles... Gimme a good dirt road any day over the current state of the south road- indeed,it sucks.

They finished a 5 mile stretch of a lovely 4 lane road going North out of Insurgentes last year, and then tore it up a few months later for some reason. That stretch is back to dirt now and it's the only area with construction equipment. There's no sign of work being planned on the sections where they've removed the asphalt because the potholes had gotten so deep.

I'd be very surprised if they will have gotten to the repairs even after summer since there's no evidence that they plan to start repairs anytime soon. I'd venture that anyone who believes the buzz about the "new paved road in to San Juanico" will be surprised too when they hit the rough patches and car parts start flying off.

Something about washboard on gravel- no tire pressure or adjustments in your speed make it any smoother. We drove in nice and slow a couple weeks ago and still ripped out the bolts holding our travel trailer on it's frame.

Curt63 - 6-17-2011 at 08:39 PM

Bump for recent status on the south road

Curt63 - 6-18-2011 at 05:39 PM

Bump bump

oladulce - 6-18-2011 at 10:58 PM

No change. The 60-70 miles between Insurgentes and the Las Barrancas turn off breaks down about like this:

-30% decent pavement.
-30% gravel washboard where road bed has been removed
-25% meteorite crater pot holes
-15% dirt road detour around current road construction between Zaragosa and Insurgentes.

A word of warning on the washboard gravel sections: The teeth-chattering conditions must be trying people's patience because the latest trend is to take on the gravel a full speed. Semi's, beer trucks, a Subaru with a cow in the back seat - you can't tell what's approaching til the dust cloud clears and they're right on top of you.

Tires are kicking up gravel like projectiles and it's alarming to have a propane delivery truck going 60 mph skidding sideways towards you head-on.

If it seems like other drivers have taken their idiot pills for the day, we pull off the "road" and on to the dirt trail along the roadside where we toodle along in an effort to preserve our windshield and our safety.

Take care.

Curt63 - 6-19-2011 at 05:55 AM

Thanks for the up update. I'll take the road at the south end of Conception Bay unles someone has a better suggestion..

Hope to run into you around July 2,3,4. Look for my truck (posted a pic last night) and introduce yourself if you like.

Cheers, Curt

David K - 6-19-2011 at 09:26 AM

So, is the new road into San Juanico all done to Las Barrancas? How does it cross the La Purisima and San Gregorio rivers (bridge or vado)? How about some photos ?

Coming north for Insurgentes, is there new signs at the Las Barrancas turnoff saying to turn there for San Juanico now? I wonder how many go all the way to the older road by La Purisima, not knowing the road is done?

Desertbull - 6-19-2011 at 07:26 PM

So, is the new road into San Juanico all done to Las Barrancas? Been done for a few months.


How does it cross the La Purisima and San Gregorio rivers (bridge or vado)? How about some photos ? Paved wide road big sweeping turns bridge over troubled water...

Coming north for Insurgentes, is there new signs at the Las Barrancas turnoff saying to turn there for San Juanico now.
Signs in Baja? No. I wonder how many go all the way to the older road by La Purisima, not knowing the road is done

Does'nt seem like much traffic on the old road...people must know.

Photos...coming soon.

EdZeranski - 6-20-2011 at 11:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by oladulce
1 mile of washboard gravel... 1/4 mile of 2ft deep potholes... 1/2 mile washboard gravel... 1/2 mile pavement... 2 miles of washboard gravel... on and on for 65 miles... Gimme a good dirt road any day over the current state of the south road-


My experience too, dirt is easier, faster, not as hard on the vehicle, and you beer doesn't get as foamy.

EdZ
..home from Baja yesterday

BajaBlanca - 6-22-2011 at 03:32 PM

Hi Ski !! Hope you both had a nice trip back home ....

Bajahowodd - 6-22-2011 at 04:29 PM

Is this some part of the project that will ultimately connect San Ignacio with Insurgentes?

David K - 6-22-2011 at 05:27 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Is this some part of the project that will ultimately connect San Ignacio with Insurgentes?


Then see a big drop in highway business to Santa Rosalia, Mulege and Loreto... as going south from San Ignacio to La Paz (something planned since 1973) will cut over 100 miles of driving and two crazy steep grades!

Cielomar - 6-25-2011 at 08:21 AM

How abut the "road" from San Ignacio to San Juanico? Is it still all dirt with some tricky salt flat spots?
I came across the road from La Purisima to the Bay of Conception back in 2003 and it took about 5 hours to go the 65KM. Thought disaster lurked around the next corner. It was a couple of years after Juliette. Glad to hear this is now a viable route. Of course once in La Purisima and you're heading south I guess the road to Insurgentes is a mess. One step forward, two back...

woody with a view - 6-25-2011 at 08:22 AM

yes. north road(s) can be a treat, if you know what i mean...

BajaBlanca - 6-25-2011 at 09:32 AM

excited to be going to san juanico for the first time ever .... should be grand !!

[Edited on 6-27-2011 by BajaBlanca]

joel - 8-22-2011 at 09:50 AM

The North Road is the worst it has been in many years. The washboard can only be described as punishing to all involved - driver, passengers, dog and car.

Ateo - 8-24-2011 at 08:15 AM

Took south road 7.25.11 and it's exactly as stated here in the first post.

Took north road via salt flats and did it in 3 hours. Easy. The sections north of cadaje are in poor shape but just air down and haul ass.