BajaNomad

Mexicali West Southbound

David K - 5-18-2019 at 08:27 PM

The following four photos are taken at places we turned or drove south from the new border to get on Hwy. 5 for San Felipe. The GPS map seems to show this was the shortest route. Good job Cameron!


Go straight here, as signed.


Turn left here, not as signed for San Felipe.


Go to bridge (that is the old route, going over the bridge).


Turn right, up and on south.


The red lines are my GPS track south from Mexicali West and back north to Mexicali East.

PaulW - 5-19-2019 at 07:15 AM

Beware the route shown to the east crossing going north is only good for Sentri and Ready.
If you do not have Sentri or Ready then follow the route shown by the little red trucks. Also labeled East Border Road.
Going South either route works.

[Edited on 5-19-2019 by PaulW]

BajaRob - 5-19-2019 at 07:32 AM

David, did you go by the big park and intersect 5 @ Costco? Looking forward to your latest trip report. Rob

David K - 5-19-2019 at 08:14 AM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
Beware the route shown to the east crossing going north is only good for Sentri and Ready.
If you do not have Sentri or Ready then follow the route shown by the little red trucks. Also labeled East Border Road.
Going South either route works.

[Edited on 5-19-2019 by PaulW]


Paul, not the case last week: You drive past the Sentri entrance and the regular entrance (driving east on the divided street) to the first street opening/ intersection and make a U-turn and the regular entrance is right there. I have photos. I will post a separate Mexicali East northbound directions.

David K - 5-19-2019 at 08:20 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaRob  
David, did you go by the big park and intersect 5 @ Costco? Looking forward to your latest trip report. Rob


No, as the photos and map show, we turned LEFT at the intersection where the sign points right for Tijuana, left for Centro Civico, and straight for San Felipe. That takes you right to the bridge on the former Hwy. 5 access route south... where you turn onto the bridge.
Cameron has short cuts all dialed in in every city!

BajaRob - 5-19-2019 at 08:41 AM

Got it . However, there is a quicker way by 10 to 15 minutes depending on traffic. We found it and have used it for our last 6 crossings. If anyone is interested, I will post the route.

David K - 5-19-2019 at 08:45 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaRob  
Got it . However, there is a quicker way by 10 to 15 minutes depending on traffic. We found it and have used it for our last 6 crossings. If anyone is interested, I will post the route.


Of course, we are! LOL Please post.
FYI, as you can see by the map, the way we went was pretty straight and quick from the new border.

PaulW - 5-19-2019 at 08:50 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
Beware the route shown to the east crossing going north is only good for Sentri and Ready.
If you do not have Sentri or Ready then follow the route shown by the little red trucks. Also labeled East Border Road.
Going South either route works.

[Edited on 5-19-2019 by PaulW]


Paul, not the case last week: You drive past the Sentri entrance and the regular entrance (driving east on the divided street) to the first street opening/ intersection and make a U-turn and the regular entrance is right there. I have photos. I will post a separate Mexicali East northbound directions.

==
I am sure that would work if traffic is light. To get to the standard lane the U turn requires crossing two thru traffic lanes to get to the far right lane. Not an easy task with heavy traffic I have noticed. Duly noted I always go around and enter the standard lane from the east. Also noted the traffic from the west is huge compared to traffic in the right lane from the east, meaning no line to enter standard lane from the east.

BajaRob - 5-19-2019 at 09:10 AM

I agree. The issue here is traffic congestion and stop lights, not distance. Here you go.
After crossing. stay right on Blvd de los Preidentes. Go through 3 - 4 way stops. You will pass a large building on left, Paleque Rex. Stay in right lane and go through 1 stop light. You will pass a large park on right. Get in left lane and pass under bridge. Make a left turn at light onto Calzado Teran Teran. It will take you directly to Hwy 5 @ Costco. Ignore the first San Felipe sign as it will take you through a residential area.
I know that it sounds complicated, but it's not.
Happy travels, Rob

David K - 5-19-2019 at 09:57 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaRob  
I agree. The issue here is traffic congestion and stop lights, not distance. Here you go.
After crossing. stay right on Blvd de los Preidentes. Go through 3 - 4 way stops. You will pass a large building on left, Paleque Rex. Stay in right lane and go through 1 stop light. You will pass a large park on right. Get in left lane and pass under bridge. Make a left turn at light onto Calzado Teran Teran. It will take you directly to Hwy 5 @ Costco. Ignore the first San Felipe sign as it will take you through a residential area.
I know that it sounds complicated, but it's not.
Happy travels, Rob


The people here want maps and photos!!! :lol::light::cool::bounce:

Thank's Rob!

David K - 5-19-2019 at 09:59 AM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
Beware the route shown to the east crossing going north is only good for Sentri and Ready.
If you do not have Sentri or Ready then follow the route shown by the little red trucks. Also labeled East Border Road.
Going South either route works.

[Edited on 5-19-2019 by PaulW]


Paul, not the case last week: You drive past the Sentri entrance and the regular entrance (driving east on the divided street) to the first street opening/ intersection and make a U-turn and the regular entrance is right there. I have photos. I will post a separate Mexicali East northbound directions.

==
I am sure that would work if traffic is light. To get to the standard lane the U turn requires crossing two thru traffic lanes to get to the far right lane. Not an easy task with heavy traffic I have noticed. Duly noted I always go around and enter the standard lane from the east. Also noted the traffic from the west is huge compared to traffic in the right lane from the east, meaning no line to enter standard lane from the east.


You are so right!
The traffic was light on Friday afternoon... We had only a dozen cars ahead of us when we got to the back of the line. I heard that the line of cars can go way-way back. I will always use Tecate to come home, personally.

JZ - 5-19-2019 at 10:34 AM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  


I am sure that would work if traffic is light. To get to the standard lane the U turn requires crossing two thru traffic lanes to get to the far right lane. Not an easy task with heavy traffic I have noticed. Duly noted I always go around and enter the standard lane from the east. Also noted the traffic from the west is huge compared to traffic in the right lane from the east, meaning no line to enter standard lane from the east.


I went through there a month ago and can confirm this can be very confusing.

TMW - 5-19-2019 at 11:11 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaRob  
I agree. The issue here is traffic congestion and stop lights, not distance. Here you go.
After crossing. stay right on Blvd de los Preidentes. Go through 3 - 4 way stops. You will pass a large building on left, Paleque Rex. Stay in right lane and go through 1 stop light. You will pass a large park on right. Get in left lane and pass under bridge. Make a left turn at light onto Calzado Teran Teran. It will take you directly to Hwy 5 @ Costco. Ignore the first San Felipe sign as it will take you through a residential area.
I know that it sounds complicated, but it's not.
Happy travels, Rob


Looks pretty easy to follow on Google Earth, thanks.

The one and only time I crossed on the new crossing going south I wound up in the middle of nowhere. After getting directions a couple of times I finally found Hwy 5.

JZ - 5-19-2019 at 11:30 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  


The people here want maps and photos!!! :lol::light::cool::bounce:

Thank's Rob!



Tracks are even better.

TMW - 5-19-2019 at 12:02 PM

Here are two images based on Rob's directions.




[Edited on 5-19-2019 by TMW]

TMW - 5-19-2019 at 12:15 PM

These may be easier to view.








Bajazly - 5-19-2019 at 01:09 PM

Once you clear the inspection area and are on the street, stay left and in maybe 75 yards make a sharp left that goes up a slight grade. At the Alto turn right, go 1 block and turn right onto 5 and stay right thru town following the signs for San Felipe. Next stop tacos about 18 or so miles south of town at the Oxxo/Pemex on the right side of the road. Doesn't get much easier.

Screen Shot 2019-05-19 at 1.04.26 PM.jpg - 228kB

Screen Shot 2019-05-19 at 12.22.07 PM.jpg - 202kB

BajaRob - 5-19-2019 at 01:36 PM

If you love traffic congestion, crazy taxi and bus drivers, 100 stop lights etc, that would be the way to go. If not, go around that chit and come out at Costco. I have made the trip through Mexicali over 100 times over the last 18 years and I don't miss the chit.

BajaRob - 5-19-2019 at 03:58 PM

Tom, thanks for the visual. This is a case when the short route is not the quick route. Ron's wife Georgia clued me in.

PaulW - 5-20-2019 at 05:56 AM

D,
I have seen all 3 lanes south bound lanes backed up west of the route you took to get to that left turn to the 3 lane. Avoiding that way is a good idea.
And the west bound two left lane are frequently backed up to prevent a possible U turn.
The 6 lane divided road has become a very popular drive for the locals in morning and after work.
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
Beware the route shown to the east crossing going north is only good for Sentri and Ready.
If you do not have Sentri or Ready then follow the route shown by the little red trucks. Also labeled East Border Road.
Going South either route works.

[Edited on 5-19-2019 by PaulW]


Paul, not the case last week: You drive past the Sentri entrance and the regular entrance (driving east on the divided street) to the first street opening/ intersection and make a U-turn and the regular entrance is right there. I have photos. I will post a separate Mexicali East northbound directions.

==
I am sure that would work if traffic is light. To get to the standard lane the U turn requires crossing two thru traffic lanes to get to the far right lane. Not an easy task with heavy traffic I have noticed. Duly noted I always go around and enter the standard lane from the east. Also noted the traffic from the west is huge compared to traffic in the right lane from the east, meaning no line to enter standard lane from the east.


You are so right!
The traffic was light on Friday afternoon... We had only a dozen cars ahead of us when we got to the back of the line. I heard that the line of cars can go way-way back. I will always use Tecate to come home, personally.

an easy option

John M - 5-20-2019 at 06:23 AM

Might as well add our route southbound

We make a turn just before reaching Highway 5 to take us to Los Arcos restaurant, one of our favorite Mexicali eating places.

John

Attachment: Mexicali west SB May 2019.kmz (2kB)
This file has been downloaded 319 times



[url=https://gasstation-nearme.com/]




Up scale dining, opens around noon.



[Edited on 5-20-2019 by John M]

David K - 5-20-2019 at 07:26 AM

Nice looking place!

it's nice

John M - 5-20-2019 at 08:59 AM

Table cloths, attentive but not pestering staff, good bar, sometimes even a rose for my wife as we leave. Prices are what you'd expect for a nice place.

This last time we were there in May for lunch, my wife wanted lobster - sort of medium sized. So a few minutes after ordering, the waiter brought a live lobster to the table and asked it the size was about what she wanted.



A little blurred but tasty.



John



[Edited on 5-20-2019 by John M]

David K - 5-20-2019 at 04:08 PM

How's your blood sugar level, John? (got shakes?) :biggrin:

no shakes

John M - 5-20-2019 at 04:35 PM

The electronic personal devices, in this case my wife's cell phone camera still frustrates me. JM

[Edited on 5-20-2019 by John M]