We can tell you about road updates. This is Dan and Lisa Goy, and staff from Baja Amigos and we just completed another caravan trip up and down the peninsula:
Highway 3: Tecate-Ensenada
They have made great progress on 10 km/6 miles of construction since we were last on this on December 18, 2011. Lots of resources have been committed to this project and it shows. Only 5 km/3 miles of construction remains and this is very passable by rigs of all sizes, lots of new pavement and the gravel sections are graded and packed.
Highway 1: Santo Tomas KM 39-KM 49
We have seen immense progress on this project since November 5, 2011. The
entire section is now paved, although not entirely complete, with the exception
of the actual cut though the mountain at KM 44-KM 47 (best guess). You still must detour around this section, partially on the old road and switchback.
Highway 1: Jesus Maria
Our first experience on this 8 km/5 mile section, between the Military Check Point and
Jesus Maria, was in early November 2011 and was brutal to say the least. The detour was for ‘Gringos Only’ and the worst Baja gravel road we had been on for years. It was like driving to the San Javier Mission before it was paved! We are pleased to report that everyone is now detoured off the section in construction and the gravel road is in great shape, well graded and flat. We were safely and comfortably driving 30 km/20 miles per hour on this section. Progress on this section seems quite slow with only a few pieces of equipment and a couple of crews ever spotted on the site. What is up with this? Who knows for sure.
Highway 1:Catavina– North & South
This has all been paved and almost 100% complete for some time now. What is a bit puzzling and surprising is the new section south of Catavina which has developed
potholes. We know little about the paving process, however can safely speculate that something went wrong with this particular project regarding the re-pavement aspects. The good news is we have seen road crews repairing many of these sections and the road surface is once again improving. Those that drive this section often will recall this was once the worst section of Hwy 1 for many years.
Highway 19: Cabo San Lucas – Todos Santos
This is an amazing project for sure and the resources, both human and equipment, are substantial — our guess would be 1,000 workers and 100 pieces of road building equipment. We have heard they are working on this 24/7 and want this completed in time for the G20 Summit in June of this year, hosted by Mexico in Cabo San Lucas.
The difference between our drive at the end of November 2011 and January 21, 2012 was significant indeed. Only the major cuts and bridge construction sections remain in gravel, well graded and packed. The balance of the highway is paved, some with all 4 lanes completed, other sections only 2 lanes.
Driving north from Ensenada on Sunday, Hugh and Carol noticed that there is now a turnoff from Highway 1 onto the Blvd/Corridor 2000. There is a toll booth to pay the toll for Highway 1. Corridor 2000 is a beautiful 4-lane highway that goes either to Tecate or the Otay Mesa border crossing, and it is free.
In the office we have an envelope to be delivered to San Ignacio. If anyone is going that direction and wouldn’t mind an extra stop, please let us know.
It’s a good year to head south for the whales. We hear there are an abundance of those gentle giants in the three Baja lagoons this year. We’ll be glad to help you plan your trip.
Saludos,
Discover Baja Staff
Discover Baja Travel Club
(619) 275-4225
(800) 727-2252
(858) 458-0722 Fax
www.discoverbaja.com
