| Pages:
1
2 |
Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
|
|
New warnings re:collapse of new beltway & Scenic Hwy. btw TJ-Ensenada
Something to think about this El Niño season as you plan to travel south.
Be sure to check on road conditions before passing through this area.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Warning registered on road's instability
Baja California's scenic toll road between Tijuana and Ensenada is at risk of another major collapse similar to or worse than one that occurred on
December 28, 2013, a scientific expert has warned.
Luis Alberto Delgado Argote, an investigator with the geography department for the division of earth sciences at the Centro de Investigación
Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (Cicese), was cited as the source for the claim in a December 21 story in La Jornada de Baja
California.
The federal agency responsible for inspecting the highway, Caminos y Puentes Federales de Ingresos, has ignored the presence of multiple active zones
where the earth is shifting, according to the geologist.
In addition, said Delgado Argote, a beltway constructed around Ensenada six years ago by the state could cause major landslides if there is heavy
rainfall as expected this winter because “there is no evidence that they performed geological studies before they began the work.”
Scientists from CICESE have been warning federal highway officials of the danger of a disastrous collapse along the highway since 2006, but they were
ignored until the 2013 disaster, according to La Jornada.
The roadway, known for its spectacular seaside views, remained closed for nearly a year while repairs were made after the landslide.
English:
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2015/dec/24/stringers-war...
Spanish article: http://www.jornadabc.mx/tijuana/21-12-2015/escenica-en-alto-...
[Edited on 12-31-2015 by Whale-ista]
\"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)
|
|
|
micah202
Super Nomad
Posts: 1615
Registered: 1-19-2011
Location: vancouver,BC
Member Is Offline
|
|
.
....is this a surprise to anyone who's ever driven that section??
.
[Edited on 12-31-2015 by micah202]
|
|
|
Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
|
|
No surprise - just a heads up warning to newbies who may be planning a trip south this winter and have heard the road was "repaired" after the last
collapse.
I want travelers to know: driving the highways in Baja, even during good weather, can be a challenge. This winter, well... be prepared for the
unexpected and possibly disastrous.
FWIW, I used to make this "commute" often, between homes in San Diego and San Miguel (north of Ensenada). I drove it on a weekly basis, or more often
depending on work schedules. (I was teaching part time in San Diego, and married to a CICESE marine geologist who was working on projects at Scripps
in La Jolla, and still does research at CICESE.)
His remarks about this area opened my eyes to the dangers.
Drives into Baja during the 1997 El Niño were real eye openers. We had first-hand views of the "free" road collapse at various place north of
Ensenada, and the wash-outs of several bridges to the south, near San Quintin and El Rosario.
I wish everyone safe travel this winter.
\"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)
|
|
|
micah202
Super Nomad
Posts: 1615
Registered: 1-19-2011
Location: vancouver,BC
Member Is Offline
|
|
''In addition, said Delgado Argote, a beltway constructed around Ensenada six years ago by the state could cause major landslides if there is heavy
rainfall as expected this winter because “there is no evidence that they performed geological studies before they began the work.”
...I usually have an intended stop in Ensenada,, only recently heard about this 'beltway',, Is it in full use nowadays?
.
|
|
|
bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
|
|
Hahaha...no. Only goes about 5 miles and one exit is usable to access Ensenada.
Another engineering/planning disaster. It was/is intended for truck traffic but only a two lane road, steep hillside cuts without stabilization and
already erosion problems along shoulders.
If and or when they complete it, if not before, it will need to be rebuilt to the same exacting standards they are using now
Quote: Originally posted by micah202  | ''In addition, said Delgado Argote, a beltway constructed around Ensenada six years ago by the state could cause major landslides if there is heavy
rainfall as expected this winter because “there is no evidence that they performed geological studies before they began the work.”
...I usually have an intended stop in Ensenada,, only recently heard about this 'beltway',, Is it in full use nowadays?
. |
|
|
|
gsbotanico
Nomad
Posts: 209
Registered: 7-28-2015
Location: Cardiff by the Sea, CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
This section of the toll road has been unstable since it was built. It took a beating with the heavy rains in northern Baja in 1993 and 1995. I had
a hair raising experience in 1995 in a very heavy downpour (at night!) driving this section. I couldn't turn around and just kept moving forward very
slowly. There had been a lot of subsidence in different areas that had been quickly repaved, but it was up and down like a roller coaster. My fear
was that there might be a sudden gap in front of me because of a landslide.
I was surprised at the speed of the most recent repairs. Because of the instability of the cliffs, any repair has to be looked at as "temporary."
Any landslide will usually occurs after a long period of heavy rain. This would be the time to be aware of the road conditions.
|
|
|
Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5898
Registered: 7-18-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
Drove over it yesterday as quickly as possible. =)
Yeah, this Winter's El Nino storms will be a test of the new repairs.
Thanks for the article.
I wish they would build an entire bypass that would connect south of Maneadero. Gringo wishes.................and another bypass in San Q.
Happy New Year all.
|
|
|
willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
Member Is Offline
|
|
I frequent the free road to ensenada but if this enormous rainfall comes to fruition, i'll take my chances with the toll road!
|
|
|
4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4243
Registered: 4-24-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy - always
|
|
the area will never be stabilized.
No engineer has yet come up with a solution.
The Potuguese Bend, Palos Verdes, Los Angles has the same problem.
your only chance is to live with it.
http://www.easyreadernews.com/53849/slip-sliding-away/
Harald Pietschmann
|
|
|
micah202
Super Nomad
Posts: 1615
Registered: 1-19-2011
Location: vancouver,BC
Member Is Offline
|
|
....what is it about sand mountains at the seaside? 
.
|
|
|
4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4243
Registered: 4-24-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy - always
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by micah202 |
it's called nature, my dear. We are not the ones controlling it.
....what is it about sand mountains at the seaside?
. |
Harald Pietschmann
|
|
|
bajabuddha
Banned
Posts: 4024
Registered: 4-12-2013
Location: Baja New Mexico
Member Is Offline
Mood: Always cranky unless medicated
|
|
As my geologist friend always used to say, "Earth Happens". 
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
|
|
|
micah202
Super Nomad
Posts: 1615
Registered: 1-19-2011
Location: vancouver,BC
Member Is Offline
|
|
aaah,,,thanks for clearing that up!   
.
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
The merchants, restauranteurs and hoteliers in Enseanada suffer for the ineptitude of the engineers
|
|
|
bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
|
|
I don't think it's the engineers or the geologists.........the push back is coming from Caminos y Puentes Federales de Ingresos y Servicios Conexos
(CAPUFE) and the politicians who won't spend the money on a bypass because they want to maintain the "scenic route" along the coast.....and they also
don't want to admit they are wrong. Typical response is to keep throwing money down a hole hoping for a different outcome.
[Edited on 1-1-2016 by bajaguy]
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18122
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
Oh, the solution is easy, the engineers can tell you how to permanently fix it. But no one can afford that cost.
So the band aid approach will continue, it is the cheapest solution.
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18122
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy | I don't think it's the engineers or the geologists.........the push back is coming from Caminos y Puentes Federales de Ingresos y Servicios Conexos
(CAPUFE) and the politicians who won't spend the money on a bypass because they want to maintain the "scenic route" along the coast.....and they also
don't want to admit they are wrong. Typical response is to keep throwing money down a hole hoping for a different outcome.
[Edited on 1-1-2016 by bajaguy] |
I suspect it is cheaper to periodically throw money down the rabbit hole than to build a new 4 lane hwy along the interior bypass route.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64749
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
It's about that ocean view.
The inland/ original/ free/ Camino Real route from La Misión to El Sauzal worked well for over 200 years... but no ocean view back there.
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
No one can dispute that the ocean view in those last several miles is world class. But, if the highway continues to fail, the merchants of Ensenada
will suffer.
|
|
|
Aldervale
Junior Nomad
Posts: 95
Registered: 12-22-2013
Member Is Offline
|
|
Hola
What is an easy way for us to check on the road conditions as we near the crossing?
Is there an online road check for BCN ?
Gracias !
Aldervale
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
