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Andy777

Oct 13, 2010, 6:59 AM

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Columbia road,Columbia bridge and beyond info

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Hi there,

I just want to post this in case it helps anyone. We've passed Columbia road several times without incident, mostly early during the week, probably 8-9 A.M when the bridge opens. Here's my experience:

-It's indeed less people than other bridges, but you have to drive 20+ or so miles out of the way to get there and then on the other side you have to drive back.
- there are 2 roads to the bridge, one comes from Laredo, the other one from San Antonio, the one from San Antonio is a toll road and it is expensive but there's the option to drive to Laredo and get there, lots of trucks tho.
-At the bridge nobody seems to speak English, I am fluent in Spanish so that wasn't a problem for me but I thought you should know I've had to act as a translator for other americans. If you go early in the morning they don't even want to see you, I guess working early kinda sucks.
- Customs shouldn't be a problem if you should follow the law, make a copy from their website of their own regulations and if they try to give you grief show them you know exactly what's going on. A custom officer tried to tell me those things allowed/franchise were only meant to apply when it was a family crossing the border and it didn't apply to me. This is not true, their website says clearly, the franchise is PER PERSON and it doesn't say anything about only applying to mexican families.
- Crossing the border with a dog or cat is a breeze but do have the documentation at hand, customs will give you more of a pain about electronics so check the list of what you're allowed and declare what you aren't allowed, desktops aren't allowed as part of your things, you have to declare them. Just be honest and friendly, they might allow you to go without paying.
- Make copies of the documentation before you leave, the prices for copies at the border are outrageous!, lol. 10 -15 pesos for 2 copies!
- Don't buy car insurance at the border, there are guys there trying to get you to buy it like it is required, it's a rip-off, 5 months of bare minimum insurance for $300 dlls ? no way, buy it when you get to your destination or before leaving the US from an american company, you can even buy it from a reputable Mexican insurance company online it costs around 200 dlls for the whole year, but so you know it isn't illegal to drive in Mexico without insurance, still , get insurance in case you kill somebody, mexicans will cross the road even if you're coming 80 m/h towards them, and in some cities people just don't have their brake lights!!!, get used to it and be prepared to stop at all times, drive carefully and you'll be fine.
- The roads to get to and from the bridge are very secluded, you won't find a lot of things except one gas station at the end of the bridge, trucks and more trucks, make sure to gas up before leaving the U.S. it's happened some of the gas stations on the Mexican side don't have gas.
- Don't speed because there are indeed bad mexican cops waiting along colombia road, I've been stopped once, Idk if it helps but it was on a Sunday 12 pm, perhaps everybody here who has been stopped should give their experience and maybe we can figure out what day of the week we can find them there.
- There's a speed trap close to Oxxo, the speed changes from 80 km/h to 60 km/h , you might not see it or you might not have enough time to slow down, there's where the bad cops get you, it's happened only once but it does happen, even if you are going 65 km/h -like me- they will stop you and threaten you to take you down to the "station". Idk about anyone here but being a woman I don't want to go with a low-class human carrying a weapon to some station that might or not exist, simply not happening.
-At that point you have to bribe them, carry with you only 300-500 pesos, open up your wallet to show them and tell them that's all you have, don't carry any valuables with you, don't show your credit cards. Just be calm and don't let them intimidate you. They want your money, they don't really want to take you to the station. Another thing is you don't go all American on them and ask them to go to the station because you will tell on them or whatever (lol), their boss will back them up and you will feel frustrated and helpless. This happened to my mom, don't make the same mistake.
- Don't speed!, along the road you will find out very soon the speed limits are RIDICULOUS, and I mean completely dumb!, most people will pass you by, if it says 80 km/h people will go 120 km/h, don't do the same, just chill and try to enjoy, getting stopped by a Federal is no picnic and a 500 pesos bribe won't cut it so, just follow the speed limit no matter what everybody else does.
- Take the toll roads!. 600 pesos from Nuevo Laredo to Aguascalientes is worth every penny.
- I personally think we lonely gringos should make friends at the border and travel following each other at least part of the road, crowds are powerful, we should just unite and help each other on the mexican side. Why don't we?

And if you have any questions just send me a message.

Rolly

Oct 13, 2010, 8:30 AM

Post #2 of 8 (3720 views)

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Re: [Andy777] Columbia road,Columbia bridge and beyond info

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Welcome to MexConnect, and thanks for the excellent report.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

amber

Oct 15, 2010, 6:00 AM

Post #3 of 8 (3574 views)

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Re: [Andy777] Columbia road,Columbia bridge and beyond info

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Very good report with lots of pertinent information. I would like to add a few things from my experience, I prefer the toll road from San Antonio, a little longer but time saving by avoiding both Laredos. Went once with no tag, just drove thru and received a bill in the mail at the Us adress connected to my license plates. Did include a fine and was around $5 US. Also have gone online,googled camino columbia to find their website and bought a one time pass for around $3.This year bought the TexTag for $20. If you are coming from the northeast it can also be used on the Dallas, Austin or Houston tollroads,a big help if you happen to traverse any of them during the rush hours.

Last year there was an English speaker at both Migration and Aduena. Found migration person very helpful. FM3 doesnt expire till March so he stamped me out ,then also gave me an FME form showing my exit date and told me to bring it with when I returned.

Have never been asked anything about the dog except does she bite or please hold her while we take a look in your vehicle if I happen to get a red light.

As for insurance I have used Lewis and Lewis in California for many years, had a breakdown several years ago about 60 miles south of Nuevo Laredo. They sent a flatbed towtruck from Nuevo Laredo and was takento a mechanic who worked from his home as by the time we got to town it was evening and everything was closed . Was very satisfied with their service. As to cost of insurance it depends on the value of the vehicle and the add-ons yo choose such as road service, legal service etc.

amber

Oct 15, 2010, 6:09 AM

Post #4 of 8 (3570 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Columbia road,Columbia bridge and beyond info

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If you need to get pesos there is a place before you get to the toll road on the right side, dont remember just where but there is a large sign on the building saying ATM. If you miss that one there is one inside the convenience at the large Pemex plaza just past the first toll booth.

i prefer the route thru San Luis Potosi as it is almost all toll road, except for a stretch of two-lane just north of Lagos. Yes toll roads are expensive but I agree they are well worth the cost nowadays

Reefhound

Oct 15, 2010, 6:44 AM

Post #5 of 8 (3562 views)

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Re: [Andy777] Columbia road,Columbia bridge and beyond info

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Very detailed report. I'll disagree with a few things though.

Whether insurance is "required" or not is a state by state thing. There was a recent thread on this subject and someone produced the statute from at least one state, Jalisco I think it was, showing liability coverage is required by law. How many of us are familiar with the laws of each state we will be driving through? Of course, one would be foolish not to get insurance given the potential risks. What you said about "buy it when you get to your destination" is terrible advice. By then you have likely driven hundreds of miles in Mexico. A mishap is as likely to occur in the first part of your trip, perhaps even more likely since that is when one is getting accustomed to driving in Mexico.

As for speeding, my personal belief is it's best to "go with the flow". The first step for a cop fishing for a mordida (more likely a transito than a federale) is to identify a target. If you're going 60kph and everyone else is going 100kph you are sticking out like a sore thumb. (Not only that but you are at greater safety risk as studies have shown disparity in speeds is a major hazard.) The cops don't really care how fast you are going and if they want to target you they will target you whether you're going 20kph above or below the limit.

amber

Nov 5, 2010, 4:20 AM

Post #6 of 8 (3228 views)

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Re: [Reefhound] Columbia road,Columbia bridge and beyond info

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Crossed at Columbia on last Monday around 10AM. Aduna and migration both spoke English. Heavy Army presence. Paperework went very quickly. No questions asked about the dog. With a loiaded vehicle got the green light at Columbia and the inner checkpoint. The entire trip uneventful. A lot of Federales on the road.

Altahabana

Nov 5, 2010, 12:16 PM

Post #7 of 8 (3174 views)

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Re: [amber] Columbia road,Columbia bridge and beyond info

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There is a heavy army presence around Columbia Bridge because there is a HEAVY ZETA PRESENCE on Highway 2 between Columbia Bridge and Nuevo Laredo.

stevebrtx

Nov 6, 2010, 6:52 AM

Post #8 of 8 (3115 views)

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Re: [Altahabana] Columbia road,Columbia bridge and beyond info

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I went up on the 22nd and back on the 2nd, I use an "expedited" procedure, not recommended for all but it works for me. I always cross at #2 bridge in Laredo, I don't turn in my sticker as I have a trailer attached to it, never been questioned. I didn't fill out an FMM going out so I didn't have a stub coming in (does anyone actually imagine there is a room full of people matching stubs and forms - in Mexico?) never questioned. I crossed back into MX at 5am, no declare, very little check, I had a new leaf blower for my gardener in the original box, she wasn't interested, no red/green light. Migration at 20 mile point wanted to see my visa, got a red light, Aduana asked me to open the back, I hit the button, he didn't even open the door, peeked inside and said "jale". About 150' further Federales flashed a light on my sticker and waved me on.

I don't do Lagos de Morenos, I bypass that by going to Aguascalientes and around a road that skirts the SE side and takes me to Ojuelos, a few miles extra, but good road, little traffic and nice scenery. The only place speed is an issue is toward the west end of San Luis Potosi, to cops run a radar trap on the couta, apparently business is good, they have a new car this year, when they caught me two years ago I had to stop for them to catch up in their old beater, otherwise speed "limits" seem more of a "suggested guideline". I will say the coutas seem a lot rougher this year, or maybe I'm just a year older.
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