BajaNomad - San Felipe to Hwy 1 done by November?????

San Felipe to Hwy 1 done by November?????

CortezBlue - 5-29-2012 at 09:23 PM

I was at the Baja Mar/Taco Factory in San Felipe on Monday and was speaking to the owner. We were discussing the new improvements in town. He mentioned he was driving to LaPaz this week. He said that the new road to Hwy 1 will be done by November when the new President takes over in Mexico. Now before I get a bunch of flaming, I told him no way. He said in Mexico if projects are not finished that started under the past president, it looks really bad.

Anyway, that was his story and he was sticking to it, I guess time will tell

willardguy - 5-29-2012 at 09:39 PM

go back into the archives and see how many super duper platnum elite senior gold plated nomads swore up and down the road to gonzaga would never be finished in their lifetime. just sayin.......

Bob H - 5-29-2012 at 11:28 PM

Can you say 'Escalera Nautica'? Same concept....

CortezBlue - 5-30-2012 at 07:07 AM

Im just the piano player

ElCap - 5-30-2012 at 07:22 AM

I have heard that same logic used for completion of the highway from San Ignacio to San Juanico. They have been paving out to Laguna San Ignacio probably since Caulderon took office, and they only have about 20km completed. Maybe we should start a poll on which highway gets completed first?

David K - 5-30-2012 at 08:29 AM

I posted this, just over a week ago:

Posted by TW on 8-31-2007:

This was on the San Felipe web site.

New federal highway projects will benefit San Felipe

A list of the new federal priorities for highway construction has been released and there is significant news for the San Felipe region. The first good news is that the road from Puertecitos to Laguna Chapala is to be funded in 2008 and work complete in 2010. This continuation of the two lane road south from San Felipe will be 7 meters wide and have a total length of 110 km. Total estimated cost will be 600 million pesos (approx. $60 million dollars). This will mean that it will be possible to drive from San Felipe and connect up with the main peninsular highway (Route 1) south to La Paz and Los Cabos. We will no longer be the end of the road!
====================================================

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the dates and distances:

NOV. 2006: Paved to 3 miles north of Puertecitos.
FEB. 2007: Paved to Puertecitos, except for 1.8 mile section.
SEPT. 2008: Paved to 2 miles south of Puertecitos.
JAN. 2009: Paved to 4 miles south of Puertecitos. (2 mi., in 3 mos.)
SEPT. 2009: Paved to 10 miles south of Puertecitos. (6 mi., in 9 mos.)
JULY 2010: Paved 19 miles south of Puertecitos. (9 mi., in 10 mos.)
JULY 2011: Paved 24 miles south of Puertecitos. (5 mi., in 12 mos.)
JAN. 2012: Paved 33 miles south of Puertecitos. (9 mi., in 6 mos.)

So far, it has been about 6 miles a year of progress.

PUERTECITOS TO GONZAGA (Pemex): 45 miles (work began in '08, 13 miles to go Jan. '12)
GONZAGA TO CHAPALA (Hwy. 1): 35 miles

There should be a new section opening soon?

[Edited on 10-12-2012 by David K]

thebajarunner - 5-30-2012 at 10:01 AM

Ah yes, I remember when the sign at Camalu said
"Pavamiento terminado"
Never thought we would see the potholes of San Quintin paved, let alone all the way to Santa Rosallia...
It is spelled "Progress"
but it does not mean we have to like it....

redhilltown - 6-4-2012 at 12:39 AM

Well it won't be done by then (and yes, I have been a nay-sayer)...to finish the rest of the road in the middle of summer with 100+ temps is dreaming but they certainly have done an amazing job! But even when they do finish it is a bit of a waste in that the road from San Felipe to Puertecitos will need to be completely re-done as well. If a lot of 18 wheelers start to use it heading south it will be ripped up in no time.

I agree with the idea it may be progress but that doesn't mean we have to like it! The thought of drinks at Alphosina's or hanging out at Papa Fernandez with big rigs air braking in the distance just.........doesn't seem right.

David K - 6-4-2012 at 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by redhilltown
Well it won't be done by then (and yes, I have been a nay-sayer)...to finish the rest of the road in the middle of summer with 100+ temps is dreaming but they certainly have done an amazing job! But even when they do finish it is a bit of a waste in that the road from San Felipe to Puertecitos will need to be completely re-done as well. If a lot of 18 wheelers start to use it heading south it will be ripped up in no time.

I agree with the idea it may be progress but that doesn't mean we have to like it! The thought of drinks at Alphosina's or hanging out at Papa Fernandez with big rigs air braking in the distance just.........doesn't seem right.

Yes, things will change at Gonzaga Bay...

The new highway between San Felipe and Puertecitos will be inland, as the old road was (through or near the sulfur mine)... It also will bypass San Felipe town, so no cross town stops and speed bumps... this was reported here sometime back.

Of course, that may be years away... and the truckers may not wait for it!

willardguy - 6-4-2012 at 09:20 AM

david do you have a map showing the old puertecitos road?

redhilltown - 6-4-2012 at 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

DK, are you saying with certainty something that will happen in Mexico....in the FUTURE????

Haven't we all learned our lessons on this???

David K - 6-5-2012 at 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by willardguy
david do you have a map showing the old puertecitos road?

Starting with Howard Gulick's (Lower California Guidebook) and the old Auto Club map (dots were places we spent the night in the 1960's)

1962:

1963:

Now the 'newer' AAA map...

1975:

My 1980 map:

1989 AAA:

2000 AAA:

2007 AAA:

willardguy - 6-5-2012 at 09:39 AM

thanks david. on the second map (with the red dots) just south of puertecitos the map shows the expected catch. what is a baya?

bufeo - 6-5-2012 at 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by willardguy
thanks david. on the second map (with the red dots) just south of puertecitos the map shows the expected catch. what is a baya?

Sorry, willardguy, I know you addressed this question to David K, so perhaps I shouldn't be jumping in, but I believe the 'baya' is the Mexican name for the gulf grouper. It's a fairly common grouper that one can catch from shore (rocks?), and we landed a fair number of them off Pta Bufeo.

Allen R
Edited for redundancy.

[Edited on 6-5-2012 by bufeo]

willardguy - 6-5-2012 at 10:22 AM

gracias allen!

David K - 6-5-2012 at 12:12 PM

Thanks Bufeo!

Was that a serious question?

thebajarunner - 6-5-2012 at 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by willardguy
david do you have a map showing the old puertecitos road?

Asking David if he has maps is like asking Dennis if he knows the way to Sharkeys!!!

:lol:

willardguy - 6-5-2012 at 05:01 PM

I know, its just a formality. :rolleyes:

thebajarunner - 6-5-2012 at 05:04 PM

sorry, just could not resist

(and both D and D are pals.... well, sometimes)

willardguy - 6-5-2012 at 05:07 PM

but seems were back to it... from san felipe do you go out by the airport to find the north end of this road? and is this the score track?

TMW - 6-5-2012 at 05:32 PM

The plan as I understand it is to build a new highway around San Felipe starting before the arches going west of town around and meeting up with the old Puertecitos highway. The Puertecitos highway can be accessed on the dirt just past the last Pemex station on the south side of San Felipe. Where the new highway will join it is anyones guess at this point.

David K - 6-5-2012 at 08:31 PM

Yes, and to word it in a different way... Just past the Pemex on the road out of town, the old road continues straight south where the paved road makes a small jog to the left, then parallels it before turning more left to head over to the harbor. Google Earth is a great way to see all the roads in Baja... even the ones built over 200 years ago to connect the missions!

LOOKING SOUTH:

My 2 cents / pesos ... U B dreamin'

bryanmckenzie - 6-6-2012 at 08:27 PM

You're dreaming. Not even rough-graded in the area from before Coco's Corner to Laguna Chapala. The work appears to be right up to about Papa Fernandez' place. I forecast late 2013 to mid-2014. And that's at a breakneck pace.

While the contractor seems to be making good time, that's simply not a reasonable estimate. In the following photos
from April 24 this year (6 weeks ago), you can see the focus of the work, what is involved in the immediate phase (contract) of construction and project that forward. If you read David K's comment (math), you'll see it's about 38 miles to go. If you assume 10Km (mile?) contracts, the final 30 miles is still several years off, as I saw no survey markers, no clearing, etc.

VIDEO Gonzaga Bay to Coco's Corner 1

VIDEO Gonzaga Bay to Coco's Corner 2

(high-resolution video available upon request)

April 2012 TRIP MAP (clockwise)

The following photos are southbound from el Huerfanito to Bahia Gonzaga.

This certainly doesn't look like your standrad (or even improvised) survey markers.

[Edited on 2012-6-6 by bryanmckenzie]

[Edited on 2012-6-7 by bryanmckenzie]

[Edited on 2012-6-7 by bryanmckenzie]

[Edited on 2012-6-7 by bryanmckenzie]

thebajarunner - 6-6-2012 at 08:44 PM

Bryan, thanks for all the good photos.
Brings back memories,
and sad to see how it will change that remote spot
I guess all things have a good side,
hoping for the best for Gonzaga

but you shots are great and very comprehensive

bryanmckenzie - 6-6-2012 at 09:13 PM

Thanks, fellow Nomad, for your kind words. And I don't even know your name. I keep a detailed 'journal' of my adventures and travels for myself. And share what and when I can --- notes, photos, videos, maps, silly observations, etc. I have no idea when I shall return from 2500 miles away to visit my beloved peninsula, for yet another adventure or longer-term stay. But I do know that I will remain a part of this community even through the distance; and share when I can.

Quote:

Originally posted by thebajarunner

Bryan, thanks for all the good photos. Brings back memories, and sad to see how it will change that remote spot
I guess all things have a good side, hoping for the best for Gonzaga but you shots are great and very comprehensive

David K - 6-7-2012 at 06:08 PM

Are you adjusting to Florida okay?

bryanmckenzie - 6-8-2012 at 01:36 PM

Wow, that's a loaded question. Mom is difficult at her age and ailments to work with. If you picture the air humidity like the water I'm standing in in the above photo (and 5th straight day of rain), that's what it feels like. Oh to have 95 degrees and be bone dry ... :no:

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Are you adjusting to Florida okay?

David K - 6-8-2012 at 02:19 PM

You will adjust... Enjoy the tropical food and culture... Eat red bananas, and other tropical treats there! Sea food and fresh fruit... pretend you are in Mulege, in the summer! (Yah, I know it isn't the same, but what are you going to do?) Don't be unhappy...!

chuckie - 6-13-2012 at 06:34 PM

A neighbor came down that way yesterday. This guy is not one of your off road once a year guys. Full time Mulegeno, owns a jeep and leads trips. His comment was "its a mess, I wont drive it again until its finished." He was driveing a newish Dodge diesel. When will it be finished? I think no one will know till the dust settles after the elections...

CortezBlue - 6-13-2012 at 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chuckie
A neighbor came down that way yesterday. This guy is not one of your off road once a year guys. Full time Mulegeno, owns a jeep and leads trips. His comment was "its a mess, I wont drive it again until its finished." He was driveing a newish Dodge diesel. When will it be finished? I think no one will know till the dust settles after the elections...

I thought you were on to something til you mentioned the Dodge truck, then I realized, that was the issue :lol:

Yust Yoking

Actually, I should named this thread, are we there yet?

bryanmckenzie - 10-11-2012 at 08:06 AM

As you last said, "are we there yet?"

Only 3 weeks to go. :lol:

TMW - 10-11-2012 at 01:30 PM

They are not even to Gonzaga yet. It'll be 5 or 6 years before they get to hwy 1. What did DK say 6 miles every 6 months or something like that.

David K - 10-11-2012 at 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TW
They are not even to Gonzaga yet. It'll be 5 or 6 years before they get to hwy 1. What did DK say 6 miles every 6 months or something like that.

Nope, the average since they began at Puertecitos in 2007 has been 6 miles (10 kms.) every YEAR.

redhilltown - 10-11-2012 at 10:59 PM

Just back from the area and yes indeed, the road is paved pretty much all the way to Gonzaga or at least well graded. Past that it even seemed in better shape thru to Chapala...then again, maybe since we didn't have to suffer the hell of the old road the 45 minutes out to Highway 1 was "doable". The area is green and beautiful from the August and September rains...Coco said he has not seen so much rain in those months in over 20 years. Maybe the rain knocked down the road a few notches (in a good way) but it was the best in a long time. I try to keep abreast of these threads but I have yet to see a good explanation of why the Mexican government is spending this kind of money for a road that is still basically in the middle of nowhere. Coco has a point in that the accident carnage from a road like that without the infrastructure to support it will be ugly...everyone will be going 70-80 mph because it IS such a great road...then what? Cell phone? Call box?? Green Angels????

David K - 10-12-2012 at 09:52 AM

The coast, and specifically Gonzaga Bay is a natural attraction. Originally for fishing, then for tourists, maybe next for mining? Paved roads do improve the economy of a region, rather we like them or not. I am one who believes in Mama Espinoza's words: "Bad roads bring good people... Good roads bring ALL kinds of people"

redhilltown - 10-12-2012 at 10:22 AM

I'm on her side too!!!!!!!! Another thing a good road brings to Gonzaga Bay is a faster way for the gill netters to get their "product" to San Felipe... gill nets in both the bays. We would come across lines of dead fish floating... probably their bycatch. At night the shrimp trawlers scraping the ocean floor not far off coast. There won't BE any fishing left in Gonzaga Bay so might as well turn it into a gringo water wonderland...bring on the jet skis and the paragliders.

David K - 10-12-2012 at 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by redhilltown
I'm on her side too!!!!!!!! Another thing a good road brings to Gonzaga Bay is a faster way for the gill netters to get their "product" to San Felipe... gill nets in both the bays. We would come across lines of dead fish floating... probably their bycatch. At night the shrimp trawlers scraping the ocean floor not far off coast. There won't BE any fishing left in Gonzaga Bay so might as well turn it into a gringo water wonderland...bring on the jet skis and the paragliders.

Seriously!

Fatboy - 11-4-2014 at 01:09 PM

2 years have passed, how close was your guess?

TMW - 11-4-2014 at 04:25 PM

We got another 2-3 years, then again who knows.