OT: paving Baja

[tomn]

This maybe more appropriate topic for ADVriders but I don't go there and some of you might be interested:
Just came back from a quick ride in Baja, Last year I found There was new paving done between San Felipe and Puertocito, and some road construction around Puertocito. This year the construction and paving wend further south toward Gonzaga bay, perhaps another 10 miles of the most rocky and steep part of the section. The steep back bone ridge section was being worked on. Those of you who's been the road knows the only very steep and rocky part. The road is paved, signed or in various stages of being worked on but all passable. The difficult part is that there is no flag man or traffic cones, you just ride with the giant trucks, graders, pavers or workers working on the road. You could easily get killed or kill someone. There is no dust control. That's how its done. The old road is used partly for the construction traffic but just about all cut up by the new and various construction related spurs, you cannot ride through. After the back bone, the terrain flattens out and the work has not started yet.
I don't know what they gain by spending money on that section of the road except quicker access to expat homes and shanties. There is no business, farms or ranches. Perhaps like many other Baja government projects, the paved road is just a hope for the future.
I did catch the last mile or so of the old road going into Puertocito arriving from south. I think this was my last ride on the old section disappearing fast.
This pavement explains why some drivers and One motorbiker I came across did not even wave and looked rather angry. They just about came off the improved section and hit the old section, which is rather rocky even for Baja standard. They wanted the good new road instead of the old rocky one which rubbed your nose into Baja.
I am not sure how long Coco will be in his shack ranch if the road building continues further on.
If you have not done the San Felipe-Gonzaga Bay-Coco's-Laguna Chapala run, do it now! No photo's of the construction, I packed my camera good for rocky ride section.

[SergioK]

Heh, I was just reading up on worldrider's thread/post about that paving and how Coco saved his ass.