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JohnnyBoy

Sep 4, 2008, 12:19 PM

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Mexican Highways

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I recently read a MexConnect post unrelated to travel. I am pretty sure it had something to do with the drug problems in the country and the poster was encouraging another person to come on down; not to worry about the drug-gang-violence and stated that the roads/highways are actually superb or wonderful, or some such superlative.

I have almost no experience at all with Mexican roads and highways except Highway 15 between Alamos and Nogales, all in the state of Sonora.

I have driven that highway numerous times in the past 18 months. I am always so relieved to get to Arizona where U.S. interstate 19 takes over from Mexican highway 15.

Maybe I have only lived or driven in places in the USA with exceptionally good roads and highways. I used to think California had the best freeways. Maybe that was true once. They are in pretty sad shape now. Arizona's freeways seem really good to me. Highway 15 in Sonora is really bad. Scary in fact. I know the locals complain about the tolls and that none of that money ever seems to get used to improve the highway.

And city streets? I think the worst streets in Tucson are better than the best streets in Hermosillo.

So, elsewhere in Mexico, wherever some of you are encouraging people from NoB to come and visit, are the roads and highways really that wonderful?

bournemouth

Sep 4, 2008, 1:47 PM

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Re: [JohnBleazard] Mexican Highways

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John - maybe the questions and encouragement do not relate to the condition of the roads, but to the fear factor - people feeling they are going to lose a conspicuous looking vehicle, be shot at by drogistas etc. We haven't driven up to Nogales for 15 months or so and I am reading on San Carlos forums that the highway condition now is really bad. It does seem to be that Sonora has more problems with road conditions than some of the other states. Over the years, we've seen the state go through phases where the highway is absolutely terrible in areas, then it gets fixed and is good for some time. I can remember when the road up to Alamos from Navojoa was one huge pothole and it took ages to drive up the hill or come back down.

The cuotas paid certainly do not seem to be coming back to the state in the form of highway maintenance.

robrt8

Sep 4, 2008, 3:13 PM

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Re: [JohnBleazard] Mexican Highways

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Hola John, I think someone was asking about driving down to SMA for the first time on an "ola de violencia" thread. I didn't want to get away from the subject there, but I'd say someone driving into the interior of Mexico for the first time should not waste their time on violencia threads and learn, as much as possible, about what to expect--and what is expected of you--as a driver in Mexico.
In Sonora I was behind a large truck who "appeared" to be signaling for me to pass. Problem was, his right rear blinker was out.
As far as the "superb" roads in Mexico, I suspect some are comparing them to what the roads were like not too long ago. There is a LOT of road construction going on & there will continue to be for years to come. GTO is going to see a lot of changes.
There are some really superb roads, followed by tricky ones. The amount of the quota makes little sense.

Judy in Ags

Sep 5, 2008, 1:58 PM

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Re: [robrt8] Mexican Highways

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We've been amazed here in Aguascalientes at the drastic effect the rain has on the streets and highways--much like the effect of ice and snow (freezing and melting) in the U.S. I guess part of the reason is the lack of proper drainage and the abundance of rain we have had here this year. All that accompanied by glorious temperatures, so we're not complaining.

Marlene

Sep 5, 2008, 5:04 PM

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Re: [JohnBleazard] Mexican Highways

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Do NOT drive at night. There have been a few ugly incidents recently reported along the stretch between Culiacan and Mazatlan (at night). I'm guessing driving at night anywhere is not a great plan these days.

thriftqueen

Sep 5, 2008, 5:38 PM

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Re: [Judy in Ags] Mexican Highways

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Judy, you are entirely right about the wonderful rains causing mucho problemas with the roads. The main problem is the construction of the road beds leave something to be desired. The beds are very shallow and the hot top they spread on them isn't nearly thick enough.

John, oh, John as you have figured out by now the roads just come with the other challenges presented by living in Mexico. We just came down Hwy 15 a couple of weeks ago and as you probably know they are in the process of re-doing some of the worse areas north of Hermosillo. There are gigantic ollas in much need of attention.

Bournemouth, we are so proud of "our" new road from Navojoa to Alamos. It has wide "honest to goodness" shoulders. Every time we make the Navojoa trip we thank the powers that be that it has been re-done. Work is still in progress readying for the UNESCO approval. All the overhead power lines in the plaza area have been relocated underground and replaced with spiffy looking lantern fixtures affixed here and there. Work is now underway at the top of the last hill coming into Alamos, a huge stonework portal is being erected. (Never mind that the city has built an esilo for pobre ancianos and it can't be opened yet because they have no beds and other needed furniture).

Another local flash - the truckers union have grande dump trucks blockading the centro with signage protesting the Presidenta whom they are accusing of stealing from the city coffers. Many rumors about Madame Presidenta as she is expanding her personal holdings at a phenomenal rate.

(This post was edited by thriftqueen on Sep 5, 2008, 5:41 PM)

bournemouth

Sep 5, 2008, 6:18 PM

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Re: [thriftqueen] Mexican Highways

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The same thing happened with una Presidenta in Guaymas a few years back - only I think her husband was the moving light and he went to jail.

I had heard about the new road up the hill - next time we go north we're coming in for a night just to see it all. It's been too long since we were in Alamos.

robrt8

Sep 5, 2008, 7:20 PM

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Re: [thriftqueen] Mexican Highways

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Is there another round of UNESCO approvals in the works? Durango Centro Historico's being torn-up. More of that "burying the lines" for some reason...

What a wonderful city is Durango.
Chihuahua, Durango, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes/SLP to points south. Wonderful driving trip IMO. FAR better than diving through NM and Texas.

Rolly

Sep 5, 2008, 7:39 PM

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Re: [robrt8] Mexican Highways

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El Centro Lerdo is getting a face lift also. And we are getting a very nicely renovated periférico.

Rolly Pirate

thriftqueen

Sep 5, 2008, 7:56 PM

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Re: [robrt8] Mexican Highways

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Isn't there always another round of UNESCO??? Read recently that Mexico has more World Heritage sites than any other country.

Moisheh

Sep 5, 2008, 7:59 PM

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Re: [JohnBleazard] Mexican Highways

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John:

You are so correct about #15 in Sonora. The last time we returned fom the south I made the comment that you can always tell when you cross from Sinaloa into Sonora. #1 The roads get really bad. #2 There is garbage everywhere!! I think Sonarenses win the prize for the most roadside garbage in N.A.

Moisheh

tonyburton

Sep 5, 2008, 8:25 PM

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Re: [robrt8] Mexican Highways

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see http://mexconnected.com/...icles/tbdid0908.html!

thriftqueen

Sep 5, 2008, 8:50 PM

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Re: [tonyburton] Mexican Highways

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Tony, thanks for the wonderful link with the latest on World Heritage sites as well as the proposed sites. It's with pleasure I see our beautiful pueblo, Alamo listed.

5. The Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the 2,900 kilometer historic route linking Mexico City to Santa Fe in New Mexico

Also the number 5 entry of the Camino Real. I lived and called NM home for over forty years. When I tell my Mexican friends that the same Camino Real that runs near Alamos ends in Santa Fe it's more than they can comprehend. For those of you who haven't visited Santa Fe, NM it's charm is very Mexico. Unfortunately the newly rich have taken it over and it's lost much of the old charm it held in the past.

tonyburton

Sep 5, 2008, 9:17 PM

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Re: [thriftqueen] Mexican Highways

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You're most welcome. The link to the article is on the front page of MSC this month. I have to get back to Alamos sometime! I've always really enjoyed visiting it, even though I've rarely had the excuse. However, returning to Alamos will have to wait until I've visited the handful of World Heritage Sites in Mexico that I've never been to. Too much to do, and not enough time in which to do it.... Tony

garrycouch

Sep 10, 2008, 10:26 AM

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Re: [JohnBleazard] Mexican Highways

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We have driven different routes to Texas from Guanajuato and have found that the Saltillo-Monterey-Laredo
route has excellent roads (all cuota) but expensive and very busy between Saltillo and Monterey. Alternate
routes we have used are through the mountains via Entroque San Roberto to Linares (the exit north of Matehuala),
then to Montemorelos and east to Reynosa. Our preferred route is the bypass of San Luis Potosi and the exit
to Ciudad del Maiz toward Tampico, then left on Hwy 101 to Ciudad Victoria and northeast-north to Reynosa.
Most is new/good hiway, little traffic (some construction currently taking place 30-40 km east of San Luis
Potosi-Matehuala hiway but virtually no delays).