Newest section of Hwy. 5 (Las Arrastras south) July, 2015

6.1 miles south of the end of pavement (Km. 170.5) and 3.8 miles north of Coco's Corner is the site of Las Arrastras de Arriola a former gold mill and ranch with a well. The existing road curves east then south again here and heads for Coco's Corner. The new highway appears to be going straight ahead and in the distance, construction dust is visible where a mountain is being reduced.

The new highway construction meets the existing road again 3.7 old road miles south and then west from Coco's Corner. Coco gives a figure of 2.5 kms. (1.5 miles) from his place west to the new highway route.

Taken week before last, same second time through last Monday:
No new roadbed traveled beyond the end of pavement.


Las Arrastras de Arriola (note dust in distance).


Well used now for construction water trucks.




3.7 miles southbound from Coco's Corner, meeting construction equipment again.




New highway route (between blue arrows).



A week later, northbound:






Paved ramp up to end of new highway (Km. 170.5), 10 miles north of Coco's/ 12.5 miles south of Rancho Grande/Alfonsina's Pemex (Km. 150).

According to your map, the south end of the new road hits the old Highway 5 around the bottom of the canyon which leads up to Laguna Chapala:



I see on Google Maps that there appears to be some new grading in that area - wonder if that's related to the new road?

https://goo.gl/maps/gjGw5

New grading next to 5

Quote: Originally posted by Cliffy

So what happens to Coco?

Quote: Originally posted by ehall

Quote: Originally posted by Cliffy   So what happens to Coco? Traffic is going to drop way off. A lot less first time visitors. But who knows? Hope he is still able to make a living.

Quote: Originally posted by freediverbrian

I remember a family living in the wash in the early 80s mining turquoise and polishing the stones for sale .Tough life no power no water. On the next trip thru to Gonzaga we took down a hand crank polisher and gave it to him he was so happy he gave us his whole box of stones . As a teenager it made an impression on me that last today . Give

Quote: Originally posted by freediverbrian

Yes now that I think about it, it was in the late 70s. We would drive into gonzaga from highway 1 , the road from San Fielipe was too rough.

Yes, the part from Puertecitos to Gonzaga was just avoided by most after Hwy. 1 was completed and offered a shorter route to pavement from Gonzaga. My last time over the 'Gonzaga Grades' south of Puertecitos on the old road was 1979, pre-running the Nov. '79 Baja 1000.

Here is a page from Jim Hunter's 1977 book about the family at Las Arrastras:

Here's a map I made using satellite image, which correctly locates the current road south of Coco's Corner.



On a topo map...




The new route cuts off approx. 2.5 miles between Gonzaga Bay and Laguna Chapala.

The first 1/3 of the new route south of Las Arrastras will likely obliterate the 1767 Camino Real mission road. Not much more than a cattle trail in this section, but because some were concerned when a motorcycle group planned to ride on some of it near here, I wonder what kind of outrage this will bring on?

Here is a satellite image with push pins marking El Camino Real where seen from space in close up views...



Here is the 1954 Gulick El Camino Real route map. San Francisquito (San Francisco) is the water hole on the trail, just hundreds of feet west of Las Arrastras...



[Edited on 8-7-2015 by David K]

Quote: Originally posted by David K

The first 1/3 of the new route south of Las Arrastras will likely obliterate the 1767 Camino Real mission road. Not much more than a cattle trail in this section, but because some were concerned when a motorcycle group planned to ride on some of it near here, I wonder what kind of outrage this will bring on?

Quote: Originally posted by TMW

I got this from a friend in San Felipe. I tried to copy the text and translate it to English but for some reason I couldn't copy it. http://www.unimexicali.com/noticias/bajacalifornia/355681/ca...