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Mori
Newbie
Posts: 5
Registered: 1-6-2024
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I've driven Mexicali to Cabo twice since September and the potholes have grown in size and number over the past few months. There are some sections
between Chapala and Guerro and also between Mulege and La Paz where you'd be better off if they took all the pavement out and just graded the dirt
rather than having potholes like pot bunkers on a Scottish golf course waiting to rip a wheel off!
We passed a guy north of Villa Jesus Maria who had flipped his motorcycle into the desert, no doubt swerving or panic braking for one of the many deep
potholes in the area. He was being assisted and we got the Angelos Verdes to respond but he would have been better off not launching himself off the
highway in the first place.
Some will say that you should only drive a Baja capable vehicle in the Baja but the whole point of pavement is to provide a surface capable of safely
supporting vehicles designed for pavement and to increase the average velocity. I'm sure that the truckers and bus drivers are vociferously
complaining about it but what's needed is a company on both sides of the state border to be paid a retainer to work on the problem continuously.
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AKgringo
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Posts: 6078
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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I seems to me that the southbound lanes are much worse than the northboud side. While the main problem is sub-standard construction, I am guessing
that trucks are heading south with full loads and returning north with less than truckloads, or empty.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18774
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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What is a “baja-capable” vehicle? Most cars with durable normal-profile tires should be adequate. The low profile tires don't mix well with
potholes.
Baja highways always have always had problems; just be aware, and dont drive so fast that you cant react in time for surprise road conditions.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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PaulW
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3086
Registered: 5-21-2013
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Yes some new cars come with 20-24" rims and no spare tire.
A disaster waiting to happen.
Met a guy at the tire shop who had on a new car, at least had a miniature spare and he was told he would have to wait at least 3 days to get a new
tire shipped from Mexicali to San Felipe.
What would a person do if all he had was a tire inflator and no spare.
Not Baja ready
[Edited on 1-3-2025 by PaulW]
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6078
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Yes, 2024 was the tear of the pothole!
I hope 2025 is the year of the permanent repairs! I doubt that will be the case though.
Now that I am headed north, many of those holes on the southbound lanes have jumped to the other side of the road!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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baja-chris1
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 12-9-2024
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It does seem they have gotten worse on highway 1. The issue I'm finding is they are so bad that you come around a corner and someone is fully in your
lane coming at you trying to avoid potholes in their lane.
Just have to slow down and expect the unexpected moreso than normal.
I would not be surprised if the moto mentioned in the first post was due to some car swerving into his lane to avoid a pothole thus running the moto
off the road.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18774
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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Need to turn 1 into a toll road so they can generate funds to maintain the road.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7131
Registered: 8-5-2011
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Just drove Mulege to Loreto
Big, deep potholes
D⁶8angerous, stressful driving
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64943
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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It is a federal highway. Any toll road must have a free parallel road, per Mexican law.
Funds will still go into pockets instead of pavement.
The maintenance money must be in the federal budget. The next move is to find out why no work is happening.
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4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4302
Registered: 4-24-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS
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Mood: happy - always
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Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  |
What is a “baja-capable” vehicle? Most cars with durable normal-profile tires should be adequate. The low profile tires don't mix well with
potholes.
Baja highways always have always had problems; just be aware, and dont drive so fast that you cant react in time for surprise road conditions.
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Baja capable vehicle?
real 4WD
tires with a minimum of /60 aspect ratio
add a calm driver
the lose nut behind the steering wheel is always where it starts
Harald Pietschmann
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18774
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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Imagine what the roads will be like if we get some rain this winter. Though it is looking like we are in a biblical drought here in san diego and
northern baja, so maybe we will not see rain this winter, or ever again….
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18774
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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It’s mexico. Abiding by laws is fluid. Perhaps they can bulldoze alternative dirt tracks using the toll money  
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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Mulege Canuck
Nomad
Posts: 392
Registered: 11-27-2016
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Worst road conditions I have seen in 12 years of driving down here.
Mex 1/5 jct to Jesus Maria is terrible. Drive slow, be safe. We had one close call as a vehicle moved into our lane to avoid a pot hole at high
speed.
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7131
Registered: 8-5-2011
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A road crew was filling potholes yesterday between Loreto and Mulege.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
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Location: San Diego
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The road i have seen has many potholes to fix, but the road also has many miles of raveled or alligator cracked pavement that needs to be
milled/topped or replaced.
One pothole-patching crew ain't gonna make a dent in the problem!
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7131
Registered: 8-5-2011
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| Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 |
The road i have seen has many potholes to fix, but the road also has many miles of raveled or alligator cracked pavement that needs to be
milled/topped or replaced.
One pothole-patching crew ain't gonna make a dent in the problem! |
They were filling the DEEP potholes, the wheel breakers. Better than nothing.
I've been driving Baja since 1986. I've never seen such big, deep potholes.
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6353
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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Can you imagine the economic impact on Baja California if they re-paved Mex-1 and Mex 5? The word would get out and tourism would double!
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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surfhat
Senior Nomad
Posts: 571
Registered: 6-4-2012
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So true Udo, the originator of the youth is wasted on the young sentiment. I just used it on another post so your timing is spot on.
There is another well-worn expression, more or less, good roads can bring people of kinds. Bad roads keep the good folks from having to deal with a
lot of other types. My interpretation.
Peace love and fish tacos says enough for this nomad.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3544
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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People stay away from Baja because of bad roads? Can't be serious. People stay away because they're frightened of bad things happening. They
think anyone traveling in Baja is crazy.
All it takes is a traffic stop and those people are never going back.
Light weights.
Anyone here giving some thought to never returning to Baja because of potholes? Raise your hand.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6078
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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| Quote: Originally posted by Lee | People stay away from Baja because of bad roads? Can't be serious. People stay away because they're frightened of bad things happening. They
think anyone traveling in Baja is crazy.
All it takes is a traffic stop and those people are never going back.
Light weights.
Anyone here giving some thought to never returning to Baja because of potholes? Raise your hand. |
I was disapointed when they paved the southern end of MX 5! 
[Edited on 1-11-2025 by AKgringo]
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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