BajaNomad

Closure of Highway 1

Marla Daily - 12-16-2012 at 10:09 AM

It takes very little to close highway 1. Many times we have been stopped because of weather-related closures: wash outs, high water, etc. One New Year's day were remained an extra 2 days in Guerrero Negro because high winds kept the fuel barge from off-loading in Santa Rosalia with gas destined for GN.

Just two weeks ago the highway was closed a few miles north of Santa Rosalia on the steep grade due to a propane truck that went over and burned, killing the driver. A two+ hour wait for the road to reopen.

This past week we drove from So. Cal. to Loreto. (We're happy to report that we WERE NOT STOPPED in Tecate for the first time in many transits!) However, about 20 miles north of Catavina the highway was closed for more than a day due to the road collapse on a tight curve for a big rig towing a wide load with a giant excavator aboard. Lucky for us we were able to take a 4WD ranch road around the closure. Big rigs weren't so lucky. They had to wait it out. When we left, three large tow trucks were hooked to the excavator trying their best to keep it from going over. Don't know the outcome.

Then further down the road, at San Ignacio, they couldn't pump gas because electricity was out! (We carry extra gas for just such times.)

Always remember it doesn't take much to close the road. The Baja Highway 1 is fragile at best.

Hola marla

captkw - 12-16-2012 at 10:13 AM

today the road and gas is a far cry from just a few years ago!! K&T

Mexitron - 12-16-2012 at 10:18 AM

In the early 80's unleaded gas was often in short supply---I finally said to hell with my catalytic converter and started using regular (25 cents a gallon!) rather than chasing phantom gas rumors halfway down the peninsula.

early 80's gas

captkw - 12-16-2012 at 10:23 AM

Hola,,you could sometimes be in line for gas hrs and days and the road washouts and building was a constant !!!

TMW - 12-16-2012 at 11:42 AM

With the new better built bridges in both Baja and Baja Sur they have a better chance to survive during heavy rains.

mulegemichael - 12-16-2012 at 11:50 AM

on my trip north last month after hurricane paul, i passed three fatality accidents between mulege and tecate.

Mulege M

captkw - 12-16-2012 at 12:32 PM

Hola,,I would have to say the last 4/5 years I have seen a lot of high speed foolish crash's.......when I was a kid driving in baja the most danger was cows,, horses,a old gal washing clothes in a vado (catavina) and The # 1 road danger was a old ,slow flatbed truck around a curve uphill doing 2/ 3 KPH..with 12 workers on the back...Hell,,I dont even see "coke curves" anymore !!! just wish they would make busses a lot less wide...LOL

[Edited on 12-16-2012 by captkw]

Marc - 12-18-2012 at 10:22 AM

Used t carry 30gal extra. Now only ten.

Marc - 12-18-2012 at 10:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Marla Daily
It takes very little to close highway 1. Many times we have been stopped because of weather-related closures: wash outs, high water, etc. One New Year's day were remained an extra 2 days in Guerrero Negro because high winds kept the fuel barge from off-loading in Santa Rosalia with gas destined for GN.

Just two weeks ago the highway was closed a few miles north of Santa Rosalia on the steep grade due to a propane truck that went over and burned, killing the driver. A two+ hour wait for the road to reopen.

This past week we drove from So. Cal. to Loreto. (We're happy to report that we WERE NOT STOPPED in Tecate for the first time in many transits!) However, about 20 miles north of Catavina the highway was closed for more than a day due to the road collapse on a tight curve for a big rig towing a wide load with a giant excavator aboard. Lucky for us we were able to take a 4WD ranch road around the closure. Big rigs weren't so lucky. They had to wait it out. When we left, three large tow trucks were hooked to the excavator trying their best to keep it from going over. Don't know the outcome.

Then further down the road, at San Ignacio, they couldn't pump gas because electricity was out! (We carry extra gas for just such times.)

Always remember it doesn't take much to close the road. The Baja Highway 1 is fragile at best.


By"stopped" in Tecate you mean for extortion?

shari - 12-18-2012 at 11:26 AM

dont forget there are often gas shortages over the holidays because there are so many more people on the road and they dont order more gas so they run out...keep those tanks topped and expect the unexpected amigos.

KurtG - 12-18-2012 at 11:39 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by shari
dont forget there are often gas shortages over the holidays because there are so many more people on the road and they dont order more gas so they run out...keep those tanks topped and expect the unexpected amigos.


"The unexpected" is a large part of what has continued to bring me back to Baja all these years.

wilderone - 12-20-2012 at 09:02 AM

"we drove from So. Cal. to Loreto"

Where are the current road construction sections Tecate-Loreto? Delay times?