Baja Sur Transpenisular higway 19 being widened

The Baja trans-peninsular highway is growing in Baja Sur. The Baja Sur loop highway 1 and then the part that is the pacific side Highway 19 are being expanded in width to handle all the new traffic.

From the capital city of Baja California Sur, La Paz headed south there is major construction going on to widen the highway. The government is working hard at creating new bridges as seen here north of the “Y” where highway 1 and 19 meet. The road widening project is being done in those areas that are most easily modified first. This means the highway immediately leaving La Paz, through the town of San Pedro and a major portion of highway 19 before Todos Santos are already under construction.


Also south of Todos Santos a few kilometers south near the town of Pescadero a major turn is being straightened and widened at the same time. You can see in these photos the work being done and the detours (desviación) that causing people to use dirt side roads to bypass the construction.

While the detours are fairly easy to see the transitions are a little abrupt when going form asphalt to the dirt. Also while at this turn in front of the Campo Experimental the construction detour is well lit. This is not the case in all the areas along the highway and many of the shoulders have very abrupt edges.

In other words drive slower and be aware that driving at night in these areas are a bit more hazardous that before. As in many things life, It must get worse before it gets better. Also keep in mind if there has been much rain as we had last week these detours do become a muddy mess quickly. The nice thing after the rains is the bypasses are very well compacted and not very dusty as the road workers continually spray the detours with water.

There are still many areas that will take a long time to be improved such as the area north of Cabo from the Migrino area all the way to Cabo. Because this area will require major blast and excavations it goes through some serious hills.

The widen areas will allow for much safer passing but as you get closer to Cabo expect possible delays if you get behind the big truck convoys bringing all the Pemex (gas), construction materials, foods and those Costco, Home Depot, City Club goodies to the booming community of Los Cabos.

Once again this is a case of things getting worse before they get better. Ah the price of living in a growing paradise. Just remember you are in Mexico where we take things a little easier and a little slower or it might just kill you literally as in the case of driving.

So remember Mucho OjO and have a fun safe trip, buen viaje!