BajaNomad - Update on Hwy 5 Gonzaga to Hwy 1

Update on Hwy 5 Gonzaga to Hwy 1

TMW - 1-24-2014 at 01:27 PM

Went down and back this past week thru Gonzaga and construction continues. Pavement ends at the end of the bridge 2.5 miles north of the gas station. It's probably only a mile but they have the dirt road winding all around. The sign say the construction project is for 7 or 7.5 kilometers. They did lay down a sealer or light coat of asphalt about a mile or two south of the gas station for about 1/2 to 1 km. The new road is raised as is the northern part is.

StuckSucks - 1-24-2014 at 02:20 PM

Right now, but especially after they pave to Highway 1, will have me rethinking Highway 5. For the Mil, I was near Laguna Chapala. I came down via Highway 1 and dealt with the typical coastal, metro-San Quintin traffic (the anti-Baja).

I did the math, and it turned out that returning to Tecate via Highway 5 is basically the same distance as Highway 1 (actually it's a little shorter). Yes, I had to deal with the dirt between Chapala and Gonzaga, but in a Tacoma, there was not much slow-going. The commute from Gonzaga to San Felipe took less than 90 minutes. Overall, a MUCH more pleasant and scenic drive.

Laguna Chapala to Tecate via Highway 1 and 3: 543km
Laguna Chapala to Tecate via Highway 5 and 2: 536km

David K - 1-24-2014 at 02:42 PM

The only gap once they reach Chapala from Gonzaga will be the terrible 1990's paved road from San Felipe to Puertecitos... narrow, no bike lane shoulder, sudden steep dips, not a speed highway like what was built south of Puertecitos and north of San Felipe.

A LOT of commercial (semi) traffic will be using Hwy. 5 to get to Mexicali and the mainland instead of Hwy. 1 with the city of Ensenada crosstown traffic, the Camalu/San Quintin farm town traffic and the hills south of El Rosario curves.

There was talk of a San Felipe bypass highway that shoots straight for Puertecitos along the same route as the old road, via the sulfur mine... joins with the coastal highway near El Coloradito. Then rebuild that on to Puertecitos. One really long bridge will be needed to cross Arroyo Matomí... or a series of bridges like over the Magdalena arroyo between Santa Rosalía and Mulegé.

StuckSucks - 1-24-2014 at 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
San Felipe to Puertecitos... narrow, no bike lane shoulder, sudden steep dips

I see they've partially filled-in some of those killer vados, but I still have them marked with a skull and crossbones on my GPS.

David K - 1-24-2014 at 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by StuckSucks

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
San Felipe to Puertecitos... narrow, no bike lane shoulder, sudden steep dips

I see they've partially filled-in some of those killer vados, but I still have them marked with a skull and crossbones on my GPS.

TMW - 1-24-2014 at 04:58 PM

Yes they did fix a few of the dips. The worst ones are near Puertecitos. Coming back on Wednesday as we were getting onto the road south of Gonzaga a tractor truck was pulling a trailer with what looked to be a large turbine, I mean big like 10-12 feet in diameter and 15 feet long. Behind the trailer was a chain pulling a pickup truck. Odd to see but only in Baja. He only had another 30 miles to hwy 1.

freediverbrian - 1-24-2014 at 06:51 PM

I have a place in gonzaga , just a few years ago it was rare to meet a newbie to the area asking directions for water ,beer ,fishing ect. Now every time i am in gonzaga I talk to people who have not been there before. The new road is already bringing more people to the area, even before the road is finished to hwy 1 .

Ateo - 1-24-2014 at 07:13 PM

Once they complete the road I will definitely be switching things up heading north and southbound. It'll be great to have a different option. See the Sea of Cortez? Or see the Pacific Coast? However you feel, the options will be there.

The dips weren't that bad. My wife was driving at night though -- and I did have to tell her to slow down as we approached a few. But they were minor if you ask me.

TMW - 1-25-2014 at 11:08 AM

["The dips weren't that bad. My wife was driving at night though -- and I did have to tell her to slow down as we approached a few. But they were minor if you ask me."]

Ateo, that's because you drive a Tundra.

David K - 1-25-2014 at 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TW
["The dips weren't that bad. My wife was driving at night though -- and I did have to tell her to slow down as we approached a few. But they were minor if you ask me."]

Ateo, that's because you drive a Tundra.

"Oh, what a feeling..." :light: