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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3512
Registered: 8-27-2003
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Update on Hiway 5 work/Coco's/Border crossing at Calexico
Went thru last weekend and serious work being done on the last section. Bridge pilings are in place on many of the washes and canyons, two small camps
are built with lots of workers and heavy equipment in place and being used. Rebar being bent in a large yard and ready for trucking to the various
locations. I'm guessing over a 100 workers, including camp cooks. Amazing.
We left BOLA at 9:00am and were in Mexicali around 4:30 which includes a stop at Coco's and a sit-down lunch in San Felipe.
Crossed at 7:00am Saturday morning, wait time was under 45 minutes. (West crossing).
Coco is going to Ensenada on the 19th for medical, back on the 20th he hopes. He no longer is sleeping in the camper, he has a kitchen and bed all set
up in his meeting area. Had a nice chat, he seemed in good spirits.
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maxj
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: 10-13-2015
Location: Coeur d' Alene, ID and Todos Santos
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Does anyone have any information re: recent road conditions driving south on Highway 5 from San Felipe to the intersection of Highway 1. I've heard
there's some rough road that requires 4-wheel drive. We're going to be headed to Todos Santos end of the month driving a Honda CR-V and pulling a
small utility trailer. Coming from Idaho, going through Mexicali seems like a good option for us since we go through Las Vegas. We're driven Highway 1
from Tijuana several times but not for the last few years. Just trying to figure out what might be best the best route.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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You don't need 4 wheel drive. But be careful and keep an eye out for traffic big and small. In areas like that I usually have my windows down and
listen for motor sounds.
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bill erhardt
Super Nomad
Posts: 1372
Registered: 4-2-2005
Location: Loreto, BCS
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Quote: Originally posted by maxj  | | Does anyone have any information re: recent road conditions driving south on Highway 5 from San Felipe to the intersection of Highway 1. I've heard
there's some rough road that requires 4-wheel drive. We're going to be headed to Todos Santos end of the month driving a Honda CR-V and pulling a
small utility trailer. Coming from Idaho, going through Mexicali seems like a good option for us since we go through Las Vegas. We're driven Highway 1
from Tijuana several times but not for the last few years. Just trying to figure out what might be best the best route. |
I drove that road in late July. The last 24 miles or so before Mex. 1 are unpaved. Breaking in the suspension on a new 4-Runner the unpaved section
took 45 minutes. The road was rocky and rough in places, but no need for four wheel drive. If I were pulling a trailer of any kind I would allow at
least twice that 45 minutes, and probably more.
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BigBearRider
Super Nomad
Posts: 1299
Registered: 4-30-2015
Location: Big Bear, Punta Chivato, and Cabo
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Mood: 
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Has anyone gotten any sense of how long it will take before the last 23 miles are paved?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I have been documenting the progress of the new highway from Puertecitos south since construction began in 2007.
It has been very close to 10 kms. per year (6-7 miles).
Without digging out my notes, they have completed about 100 kms. from Puertecitos... say 60 miles. 2015-2007=8 years... or 7.5 miles per year now.
With 20 miles more to go (23 current dirt miles less the shortcut west of Coco's and with less curves across the mountain to Chapala), at the current
average of 7.5 miles per year we have 2 years and 8 months to finish... say 2018.
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BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Senior Nomad
Posts: 980
Registered: 11-5-2009
Location: BAJA SUR
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Hola maxj,
WELCOME TO NOMADS !
i basically have the same setup as you. i have a honda element which is built on the crv frame and i have a 6' x 8' x 5' tall wells cargo trailer and
have been going back and forth to los barriles for over seven years.
my only concern for you is usually, utility trailers have no major suspension, just a straight axle with no springs and mine just bounces all over the
place on unpaved roads and shakes all my stuff all over the place even after trying to be careful tying everything down even driving at very low
speeds, basically crawling.
i have never aired down my trailer tires and don't know if it would make a difference.
so, i suggest you take all the paved roads that you can and put delicate things in your car.
i have two hitch locks to secure the trailer when i have to leave it somewhere. BUT, i wrap a chain around the hitch after all my locks and padlock it
in place.
have a great trip,
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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After years of stubbornness on my part (and several flat tires all from sharp rocks)... I have relented to the advice of my off roading friends and
always air down my tires on any graded dirt road drive that is an excess of say ~15 miles (driving slower than I like if too short a distance to
deflate).
Dropping the air from the street pressure (34 psi in my case) to 25 psi on graded/ washboard roads has 100% ended flat tires for me (so far).
You see, with just a little more give the lower pressure allows, the rubber wraps around the sharp point of a rock instead of fights against it, and
losing!
Of course, most know about deflating more for deep sand (10-20 psi depending on tire type and sand type, as well as weather conditions).
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Pacifico
Super Nomad
Posts: 1299
Registered: 5-26-2008
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They are moving along pretty good from the looks of it. Once they get the bridges done over the arroyos, it should go pretty fast! But who knows? Viva
Mexico! 
"Plan your life as if you are going to live forever. Live your life as if you are going to die tomorrow." - Carlos Fiesta
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BigBearRider
Super Nomad
Posts: 1299
Registered: 4-30-2015
Location: Big Bear, Punta Chivato, and Cabo
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Mood:
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I'm hoping it will be done soon. I did get a flat on my bike there. Luckily, there's that Llantera where the dirt meets the 1.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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Went this route (again) south last week. I drive slow, so the dirt part took me a little under two hours. At great risk of offending the
knowledgeable DavidK, Never before have they had 50 pieces of heavy equipment, 3 cement batch plants, and at least 300 workers all at the same time
(based on my observations over the last 35 years of traveling this road). They are now putting in the road base in Laguna Chapala 3.5 miles from hwy
1. The entire 23 miles is being worked on at once. I suspect they will have this done way before 2018.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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There are a couple of very good road reports, including pictures, over on Talk Baja.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by rts551 | | Went this route (again) south last week. I drive slow, so the dirt part took me a little under two hours. At great risk of offending the
knowledgeable DavidK, Never before have they had 50 pieces of heavy equipment, 3 cement batch plants, and at least 300 workers all at the same time
(based on my observations over the last 35 years of traveling this road). They are now putting in the road base in Laguna Chapala 3.5 miles from hwy
1. The entire 23 miles is being worked on at once. I suspect they will have this done way before 2018. |
I would never let you offend me, but thanks for the concern. In fact, I do not disagree with you on this. But, like predicting a higher future sea
level, until it happens, it is all just speculation. I can factually tell you how much has been done in the past 8 years and only if the rate of work
increases (which it may have), will it be done before the end of 2018.
Have a nice day!
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Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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Copied from Talk Baja discussion, posted Oct. 12
Alternate Drive to/from Loreto - Update on Mex 5 Highway construction: Laurie and I took the alternate route up the Baja last week. Instead of driving
Mex 1 to the border, we took Mex 5 which goes thru San Felipe. Supposed to save 3 hours to the border. A few interesting facts heading north (reverse
read if you are headed south):
* The entrance to Mex 5 when going north is about 30 miles north of the turnoff to Bahia de los Angeles
* The entrance heads east, and is NOT marked "Mex 5", and does NOT note "San Felipe"... it is a small sign that says "Laguna Chapala".
* It is a dirt road for the first 22 miles (actually the last 22 miles of construction to be done, starting north to south). It is not a terrible
road, but not great either. It was no problem for our little Toyota Rav 4.
* Take usual precautions for a remote dirt road... bring water in case of breakdown... ensure you have a spare tire and tire change gear.
* Around Mile 5, you will enter the construction zone... VERY interesting. It is mostly thru a canyon... tough construction environment!!!
* Lot's of bridges being built, amazing amount of dirt and rock being moved... it is worth driving this way just to see the construction.
* PHOTOS: The two photos are examples of a work camp (there are 6 of them) and the start of a bridge.
* Heading north, you will hit a beautiful brand new paved road... first class highway construction... wide lanes, big shoulder, long sweeping turns.
80mph felt slow on this road.... you could drive 120mph with no stress.
* Once you hit Bahia Gonzaga, SLOW DOWN!!! The older road between Gonzaga and San Felipe is pretty good in most places (not like the new part of the
road), but there are some sudden dips at vados that will slam you to the pavement in the bottom and send you flying when you exit. These will take you
by surprise... they sure did get us!
* From San Felipe to Mexicali, the road is great, no issues.
* The crossing into Calexico is easy and fast, no issues.
* Head north to I-8... OR, thru El Centro, past Salton Sea, to I-10.
* NOTE: Regarding time savings, excellent for anyone coming/going East (Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, etc)... not much time saved if you are going to San
Diego or thru LA headed north.
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K | | Quote: Originally posted by rts551 | | Went this route (again) south last week. I drive slow, so the dirt part took me a little under two hours. At great risk of offending the
knowledgeable DavidK, Never before have they had 50 pieces of heavy equipment, 3 cement batch plants, and at least 300 workers all at the same time
(based on my observations over the last 35 years of traveling this road). They are now putting in the road base in Laguna Chapala 3.5 miles from hwy
1. The entire 23 miles is being worked on at once. I suspect they will have this done way before 2018. |
I would never let you offend me, but thanks for the concern. In fact, I do not disagree with you on this. But, like predicting a higher future sea
level, until it happens, it is all just speculation. I can factually tell you how much has been done in the past 8 years and only if the rate of work
increases (which it may have), will it be done before the end of 2018.
Have a nice day! |
And much like predicting sea levels, taking a good look at factual data TODAY can be a better predictor than history. Remember, you can not always
drive forward looking in the review mirror.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Data is not very effective if you only examine it from one single point in time but very effective if multiple readings over several years are
compared. You just need the courage to accept the facts even when they are counter to the rantings of your mentors.
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
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Profound.....(DUH)
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mtnpop
Senior Nomad
Posts: 597
Registered: 9-8-2009
Location: Colorado/mulege
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chasing down hwy 5 tomorrow, thurs 29th... will see what is now done to help out the drive...
friends traveled it yesterday and said 45 minutes... even if its a couple of hours it still cuts time for us..
will try to pay attention and let ya know how it goes...
just have to remember the killer vados...... airborne last year on one with an overhead camper on.... didn't break anything, thank the guardian
angel... or whoever....
luck to us......
Common sense is a flower that doesn\'t grow in everyone\'s garden.....
A wise man once spoke nothing.....
Never kick a cow chip on a hot day!!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by mtnpop | chasing down hwy 5 tomorrow, thurs 29th... will see what is now done to help out the drive...
friends traveled it yesterday and said 45 minutes... even if its a couple of hours it still cuts time for us..
will try to pay attention and let ya know how it goes...
just have to remember the killer vados...... airborne last year on one with an overhead camper on.... didn't break anything, thank the guardian
angel... or whoever....
luck to us...... |
Killer vados are all on the old section between Punta Estrella and Puertecitos. That 40 miles is best driven at 50 mph max so you can slow quickly for
the surprises!
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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drove it yesterday. course is marked along the road from Coco's on the dirt road and then for miles up the new hwy. Prerunners are already racing
up the road.
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