Considering Piedras Negras Crossing?

Considering Piedras Negras Crossing?

Can't Post | Private Reply

For those considering crossing at Piedras Negras, the article which follows MAY be helpful in making a decision on using this crossing:

http://www.borderlandbeat.com/...eground-spreads.html
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Aug 3, 2010, 12:21 PM

Post #2 of 18 (5168 views)

Re: [chinagringo] Considering Piedras Negras Crossing?

Can't Post | Private Reply

The entire frontera region of Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon and Coahuila is unstable and no place is really secure. Piedras has had a low level of violence for some time, but on a smaller scale than Reynosa and more recently Nuevo Laredo. At some point it will probably erupt but it hasn't happened yet. The intense violence has moved up the river from Matamoros/Reynosa gradually over the past six months. Overall though there is probably less risk of something bad happening in Piedras than in Reynosa or Nuevo Laredo. Certainly Highway 57 has seen less problems than the highways that run south from the lower Rio Grande Valley to the interior.

Aug 3, 2010, 6:58 PM

Post #3 of 18 (5130 views)

Re: [Altahabana] Considering Piedras Negras Crossing?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Altahabana, do you still recommend Piedras Negras over NL or any other crossings? The steel structure for the bridge on Hwy 57 was 80% complete on Friday and it will be installed after it is complete. I'm not sure if it will be complete by the end of this week or if it will be another week.

Chinagringo or others, what crossing do you recommend from Texas?

Thanks.

Aug 3, 2010, 11:47 PM

Post #4 of 18 (5111 views)

Re: [susango] Considering Piedras Negras Crossing?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Does it sound like the bridge is open now? I'm not sure based on the spanish to english translation of this article. Thanks.

http://www.milenio.com/node/501086

Aug 4, 2010, 5:27 AM

Post #5 of 18 (5091 views)

Re: [susango] Considering Piedras Negras Crossing?

Can't Post | Private Reply

A span of the bridge opened yesterday (08/03/2010) to passenger vehicles.

http://www.zocalo.com.mx/...-en-la-carretera-57/

I have always thought Eagle Pass/Piedras was a good crossing point for travelers who travel south on IH 35 to the border, although it adds a few miles to the trip opposed to crossing at Nuevo Laredo. It is easy to navigate through Piedras if you take the newer bridge in Eagle Pass known as Camino Real. The vehicle permit/immigration/aduana checkpoint is about 30 miles south near Allende and is on the highway so it is impossible to miss. Highway 57 is a free highway with the exception of a 30 mile cuota that starts just past the Allende checkpoint and is good condition. You also bypass Monterrey. But it is simply an alternative.

NEOhio1

Aug 4, 2010, 7:04 AM

Post #6 of 18 (5076 views)

Re: [Altahabana] Considering Piedras Negras Crossing?

Can't Post | Private Reply

I use the Piedras/Eagle's Pass entry/exit over Laredo because its quick and clean.

With all this new and sustained narcoviolencia activity along the border crossing cities I would still choose this one, because its quick and clean.

Since the high desert crossing and thru Monclova can be sparsely travelled at certain times of the week I thinkbefore I hit Saltillo I would be looking to the rest stop and a couple of restaurants that are well used to find some otheres travelling that direction.

Reefhound

Aug 4, 2010, 9:30 AM

Post #7 of 18 (5042 views)

Re: [Altahabana] Considering Piedras Negras Crossing?

Can't Post | Private Reply

Piedras is a good crossing and a viable option which I took earlier this year when narcos were setting up checkpoints on the NL-Monterrey cuota. But it's longer and slower. If not for narco checkpoints, nothing beats going NL and Monterrey in getting to SLP.

In general, I feel more secure when I can get from point A to B in 4 hours and stay in motion on a 4-lane divided highway than when it takes 6 hours and lots of stops for lights and topes going through towns along a two lane road. And I've never had an issue crossing into Mexico at NL, never more than a few minutes wait, and even when I get a red the inspection has been a brief look see. At Allende I waited 45 minutes for a FMT (behind people getting TVIP) and then hassled by inspections for 30 minutes who said bringing in used clothes was not allowed.

Aug 4, 2010, 10:35 AM

Post #8 of 18 (5029 views)

Stupid question

Can't Post | Private Reply

What would happen if we didn't stop at immigration/aduana checkpoint near Allende? Is this where you get the red/green light or is that at the border crossing? We already have our import sticker. I assume this would leave us without a stamp in our passports and without a FMM if it is even possible. I assume we'd have problems when we tried to leave the country too.

Rolly

Aug 4, 2010, 11:02 AM

Post #9 of 18 (5026 views)

Re: [susango] Stupid question

Can't Post | Private Reply

Why are you talking about violating the law?

When you go to the INM office to register, they will ask for your FMM. You'd better have one.

Rolly Pirate

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

Aug 4, 2010, 11:46 AM

Post #10 of 18 (5014 views)

Re: [Rolly] Stupid question

Can't Post | Private Reply

I'm not interested in violating the law. I just wondered if there was another place to get the FMM or a way to handle it differently. We do have used clothing in boxes. I hate to get thirty miles into Mexico and have a problem and have to turn around and go back. I still don't know if we should try to go through NL or PN or if there are any other safer options. I don't really feel great about either one because of the recent narcoviolene in those areas and all along the border and some of the interior too. There have been fewer reports for PN, but I don't know if it gets less press or not and right now there isn't much MX press coverage of any of it because of fear and intimidation. I would feel better about getting out of the region quickly too, but if PN is safer than a longer drive might be worth it especially if there is a higher probability that we'll run into a narco checkpoint or be carjacked or run into gunfire. The response about the highway being sparsely travaled near Satillo is worrysome too. I have read that the cartels really like white trucks and SUVs and we have one of them. It might not be as big as they would like, but it might be the closest to what they like if there are fewer options or an urgent need. That might put us in a higher risk category than someone in a car.

NEOhio1

Aug 4, 2010, 12:29 PM

Post #11 of 18 (5001 views)

Re: [susango] Stupid question

Can't Post | Private Reply

Your used clothing in boxes is going to appear to be clothing for resale. The border towns are full of places to buy clothing in bundles to bring in, legally, and resell at tianguis. You would be better off to put that clothing is those vacuum suck bags and cram them into suitcases.

As for encountering trouble - it will simply be wrong place, wrong time - random.

Rolly

Aug 4, 2010, 12:34 PM

Post #12 of 18 (5001 views)

Re: [susango] Stupid question

Can't Post | Private Reply

If the amount of used clothing seems reasonable for a person moving to México, you'll be fine. If, on the other hand, it looks like stock for a store, the customs folks may confiscate the used clothing.

Rolly Pirate

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

Reefhound

Aug 4, 2010, 12:39 PM

Post #13 of 18 (4999 views)

Re: [susango] Stupid question

Can't Post | Private Reply

You could get a red/green light at both the border crossing and the interior checkpoint.

Used clothing is permissable. The guy was just wanting a bribe. The problem was aggravated when my wife bluntly asked him early on how much he wanted in front of someone else. Then he dug in and just said we had to leave the boxes or take them back to the U.S. I would have went back to the border and dumped them in the river before I would have left them there. I was seriously mapping a route down Mx2 to NL when he finally got tired of us, gave her a lecture about insulting him, and said we could pass. One bit of advice, when you hear the magic word "pasa", shut up and go even if you're in the middle of saying something.

As for which way is safer, who knows? NL gets more reports of problems but handles much more traffic. As a percentage, it may not be any worse. As one person here is fond of saying, odds are on your side but it all comes down to whether you draw the black bean.

Aug 4, 2010, 1:36 PM

Post #14 of 18 (4985 views)

Re: [susango] Stupid question

Can't Post | Private Reply

Reefhound's problem was probably with an individual agent and that could happen anywhere. I seriously doubt audana at Allende has a different policy for used clothing than aduana at Nuevo Laredo. You will clear Aduana when you cross into Piedras and again when you leave Allende.

No place in the frontera region of Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon and Coahuila is particularly stable. There could be a problem anywhere and at anytime. Only the most spectacular incidents make the international press or the news sources you probably read. Lots of unsettling things occur daily in all the border cities that don't make the news. But chances are you won't see any of those things or else will not notice them regardless of where you cross.

I am not aware of narco retenes (roadblocks) along Highway 57 below Piedras where vehicles have been hijacked. But you have to realize that there is an open insurgency in parts of the north that you will pass through if you are driving to the interior. Retenes with hijackings have certainly happened in other places. Bottom line: it may be fine in your little corner of Mexico but in the north it's not. It is highly unlikely anything will happen, but there is some risk in travelling.

(This post was edited by Altahabana on Aug 4, 2010, 1:39 PM)

Reefhound

Aug 4, 2010, 1:41 PM

Post #15 of 18 (4982 views)

Re: [Altahabana] Stupid question

Can't Post | Private Reply

I don't think Aduana has a different policy and I agree it's an individual agent thing but perhaps it's easier for such an individual agent to operate in a location that is less busy and where there are less co-workers and supervisors around?

Judy in Ags

Aug 11, 2010, 4:16 PM

Post #16 of 18 (4780 views)

Re: [susango] Considering Piedras Negras Crossing?

Can't Post | Private Reply

We kind of missed out earlier, I guess. Where is this bridge on 57 of which you speak, please.

Aug 11, 2010, 5:05 PM

Post #17 of 18 (4770 views)

Re: [Judy in Ags] Considering Piedras Negras Crossing?

Can't Post | Private Reply

It is the bridge in Sabinas. The article says it opened on Tuesday (08/03/2010) to light vehicle traffic.

Aug 11, 2010, 7:42 PM

Post #18 of 18 (4737 views)