BajaNomad

Latest going south at San Ysidro

gsbotanico - 5-24-2016 at 08:36 AM

This is the latest information as of Monday, May 23. After clearing Mexican Customs the first exit to the right going to Playas de Tijuana and the toll road is still closed. The new bridge where the old highway and the toll road intersect in Rosarito is still not open. Asphalt is being laid on the bridge approaches. For travelers going further south there is a new twist. Cars are turning left earlier, not making the U-turn, but bumping over rough dirt to get onto the toll road. I just followed other cars doing it. It worked!

woody with a view - 5-24-2016 at 08:46 AM

Where is the dirt section, at that bridge? And how long is the section?

willardguy - 5-24-2016 at 08:54 AM

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view  
Where is the dirt section, at that bridge? And how long is the section?


short section goes under the new bridge, but this only applies if you're coming down the free road not the toll....

SFandH - 5-24-2016 at 09:02 AM

That's true, we drove to La Mision Sunday using the toll road and there is no problem at the construction zone in North Rosarito where the Home Depot is.

The detour crossing southbound at San Ysidro is still there. Just go straight after you cross, instead of bearing to the right. That will take you to the old exit for the border highway. Real easy.

Does anybody know what the Mexicans are building at the San Ysidro crossing?

[Edited on 5-24-2016 by SFandH]

willardguy - 5-24-2016 at 09:16 AM

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view  
Where is the dirt section, at that bridge? And how long is the section?

the dirt section is only a hundred yards, bumpy but Pinto's and Vega's have no problem.....david will air down and engage A-trac, get out and take a bunch of pictures........:lol:

David K - 5-24-2016 at 09:27 AM

This is what A-TRAC is for, silly willy:

gsbotanico - 5-24-2016 at 02:05 PM

Forgot to mention there is a spot on the old highway that you don't want to hit at higher speed. It's at a stoplight in the section of four lanes where the road starts to climb more steeply from downtown Tijuana up to the libramiento crossing and before the turnoff to La Gloria. The concrete has been dug up and replaced with dirt with many stones. On Monday northbound traffic was backed up two stoplights because cars creep across the very rough fill which crosses all four lanes. No idea when it might be fixed.

Maron - 5-24-2016 at 09:14 PM

To all thanks for the update(S), heading south on Friday

SlyOnce - 5-25-2016 at 09:24 AM

just cross and follow the orange detour signs to Ave International

make sure your registration is up to date!

willardguy - 5-25-2016 at 10:03 AM

yesterday my buddy crossed south at SY was immediately pulled over by tijuana cop for expired registration, escorted back to border, handed his drivers license and passport and booted back to the U.S.!

SFandH - 5-25-2016 at 10:47 AM

Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  
yesterday my buddy crossed south at SY was immediately pulled over by tijuana cop for expired registration, escorted back to border, handed his drivers license and passport and booted back to the U.S.!


Trump revenge.

Bajahowodd - 5-25-2016 at 04:28 PM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH  
Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  
yesterday my buddy crossed south at SY was immediately pulled over by tijuana cop for expired registration, escorted back to border, handed his drivers license and passport and booted back to the U.S.!


Trump revenge.



Too funny.

SFandH - 5-25-2016 at 04:37 PM

Funny? Maybe. Sometimes I wonder what the locals say behind my back when I'm in TJ. "P-nche Trump gringo".

Ateo - 5-26-2016 at 07:35 AM

Quote: Originally posted by SlyOnce  
just cross and follow the orange detour signs to Ave International


I didn't see any detour signs when I was down last month......got lost in TJ like a kook.

Heading down Sunday and hoping to find the old Ave Int'l a tad easier.

I think I need to go straight for second then stay left.

willardguy - 5-26-2016 at 08:02 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Ateo  
Quote: Originally posted by SlyOnce  
just cross and follow the orange detour signs to Ave International


I didn't see any detour signs when I was down last month......got lost in TJ like a kook.

Heading down Sunday and hoping to find the old Ave Int'l a tad easier.

I think I need to go straight for second then stay left.



UP the hill, 1st right!

gsbotanico - 5-26-2016 at 08:30 AM

Stay to the left after clearing Mexican Customs, then stay to the right in the two lanes and take the ramp that curves to the right. This goes to the Internacional. If you choose to use Third Street, follow it up the hill and then turn LEFT when it hits Second Street and follow it towards the toll road.

David K - 5-26-2016 at 08:49 AM

Why not just go to Otay, and take Corredor 2000 south? It is so much easier, and free, too.

SlyOnce - 5-26-2016 at 09:28 AM

The orange signs are up now and follow them, its simple. I drive the route every day (work in SD live in Playas).

ncampion - 5-26-2016 at 09:39 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Why not just go to Otay, and take Corredor 2000 south? It is so much easier, and free, too.


Totally agree, I see no need to play the TJ shell game. Blvd. 2000 has some rough spots, but at least it's straightforward.

willardguy - 5-26-2016 at 09:50 AM

UP the hill 1st right, how straightforward can you get!

Ateo - 5-26-2016 at 11:50 AM

Thanks all. I'm an idiot.

woody with a view - 5-26-2016 at 01:33 PM

Own it!:P

mtgoat666 - 5-26-2016 at 01:54 PM

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view  
Own it!:P


Steal it!

rhintransit - 5-26-2016 at 09:57 PM

Okay, someone make it real simple for me...crossing tomorrow...where do I go? I hate getting lost in TJ. Am tempted just to head to Tecate. One more time please, simple directions, crossing to toll road.

willardguy - 5-26-2016 at 10:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by rhintransit  
Okay, someone make it real simple for me...crossing tomorrow...where do I go? I hate getting lost in TJ. Am tempted just to head to Tecate. One more time please, simple directions, crossing to toll road.


once more, you will have two choices, you want the left lanes (centro) the ones that go UP a hill (actually a bridge but just looks like a hill) stay to your right and take the first right, it'll put you right on international.
have a great trip!

mtgoat666 - 5-26-2016 at 10:22 PM

Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  
Quote: Originally posted by rhintransit  
Okay, someone make it real simple for me...crossing tomorrow...where do I go? I hate getting lost in TJ. Am tempted just to head to Tecate. One more time please, simple directions, crossing to toll road.


once more, you will have two choices, you want the left lanes (centro) the ones that go UP a hill (actually a bridge but just looks like a hill) stay to your right and take the first right, it'll put you right on international.
have a great trip!


Follow chithole road along the border fence, until you get to toll road.
If you get misdirected into downtown, panic! Then, follow 3rd west until it turns into second. follow 2nd toward ocean. 2nd becomes the toll road.
Easy peasy.
Dk will draw you a map if you buy a copy of his mission book.

Bajahowodd - 5-27-2016 at 04:52 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Why not just go to Otay, and take Corredor 2000 south? It is so much easier, and free, too.


Is a couple of bucks that important? Taking the route that you recommend entails several traffic lights and a bunch of cross traffic along the way. No thanks.

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 5-27-2016 at 05:41 PM

would it be better crossing on monday, june 13 around 5 p.m to cross at san ysidro or tecate ?

if tecate, is there construction to deal with and another route than the one i have used from 2005 until 2011 ? i haven't crossed into baja either way for about five years.

i thank you in advance,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 5-27-2016 at 05:44 PM

p.s.

re: june 13, that would be crossing north.

thanks again,

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

SFandH - 5-27-2016 at 05:51 PM

5 PM on a weekday is usually a good time to cross at San Ysidro. Regular lanes maybe an hour, probably less, ready and sentri lanes quicker, of course. Don't know about Tecate.

SFandH - 5-27-2016 at 05:55 PM

Northbound this Monday afternoon is going to be hours and hours if the Memorial Day tourist predictions are correct.

Ateo - 5-28-2016 at 06:39 AM

Detour directions:

https://www.bajabound.com/before/driving/directions/ave_inte...

rhintransit - 5-28-2016 at 05:45 PM

Made it. Thanks everyone. The photos really helped. Orange signs are a little confusing, but...pass customs, go straight, up the "hill" that's really an overpass, stay right, take first right.

gsbotanico - 6-1-2016 at 09:29 AM

Crossed at Otay heading north on Monday afternoon around 3 pm. Sentri lane took 15 minutes to cross, but we were sent into secondary inspection. We had a lot of camping equipment. Secondary inspection took another 15 minutes, although it was crowded with cars. Total time to be on our way was 31 minutes. Not bad at all for Memorial day.