Mexican Federal Highway 5
Encyclopedia
Mexican Federal Highway 5 follows the northeast length of the state of Baja California
from the US-Mexico border in Mexicali
at the northern end to San Felipe
in the south. The highway is entirely inside the municipality of Mexicali
. However, a state highway from San Felipe to Puertecitos (municipality of Ensenada) is usually considered part of the federal highway. From San Felipe to the south, the road follows the seacoast of the Gulf of California
.
at the western border crossing. It has four lanes from there to about km 80. At this point it becomes a two-lane highway (with little or no shoulder in most areas) until km 160, about 18 km (11 mi) south of the junction with Mexican Federal Highway 3
, and about 40 km (24 mi) north of San Felipe. From there, the highway is a broad, divided, four-lane highway with a median and ample shoulders, until it ends in San Felipe.
The new highway segments being constructed from San Felipe to the north and Mexicali to the south are raised, with drainage culverts passing underneath the highway. These have replaced the dips, or fords (vados) that formerly provided drainage across the highway. The resulting highway is a much higher quality road.
The interchange with highway three has been completed, so that no turns across traffic are required.
) is about 3 km east of the highway. Repairs on the highway began nearly immediately. From km 20 to km 38, SCT (Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes) contractors re-leveled the road and filled cracks.
is a natural extension of the federal highway. It is an undivided, two-lane highway that has some rough spots and has many significant dips or fords where the highway meets normally-dry steams. One of the largest is labeled on the pavement in both directions as the "OH SHIT DIP."
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
from the US-Mexico border in Mexicali
Mexicali
Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
at the northern end to San Felipe
San Felipe, Baja California
San Felipe is a town on the Gulf of California in the Mexican state of Baja California, 190 km south of the United States border and within the municipality of Mexicali. It also serves as a borough seat of its surrouding area....
in the south. The highway is entirely inside the municipality of Mexicali
Municipality of Mexicali
Mexicali Municipality is a municipality in the Mexican state of Baja California. Its municipal seat is located in the city of Mexicali. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 956,826 inhabitants, and according to the 2000 census, it had 764,602 inhabitants, which means an increase...
. However, a state highway from San Felipe to Puertecitos (municipality of Ensenada) is usually considered part of the federal highway. From San Felipe to the south, the road follows the seacoast of the Gulf of California
Gulf of California
The Gulf of California is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland...
.
Route description
The road begins in the border city of MexicaliMexicali
Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
at the western border crossing. It has four lanes from there to about km 80. At this point it becomes a two-lane highway (with little or no shoulder in most areas) until km 160, about 18 km (11 mi) south of the junction with Mexican Federal Highway 3
Mexican Federal Highway 3
Mexican Federal Highway 3 is a Federal Highway of Mexico. One segment connects Tecate to Ensenada in Baja California. This segment ends at its junction with Mexican Federal Highway 1 at El Sauzal Rodriguez, just a little north of Ensenada...
, and about 40 km (24 mi) north of San Felipe. From there, the highway is a broad, divided, four-lane highway with a median and ample shoulders, until it ends in San Felipe.
The new highway segments being constructed from San Felipe to the north and Mexicali to the south are raised, with drainage culverts passing underneath the highway. These have replaced the dips, or fords (vados) that formerly provided drainage across the highway. The resulting highway is a much higher quality road.
The interchange with highway three has been completed, so that no turns across traffic are required.
Earthquake damage and repairs
The epicenter (32°15'32"N, 115°17'13.2"W) of the magnitude 7.2 earthquake on April 4, 2010 (2010 Baja California earthquake2010 Baja California earthquake
The 2010 Baja California earthquake was an earthquake of 7.2 magnitude on the moment magnitude scale. It started south of Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California, Mexico, at a depth of . It occurred at 3:40:41 p.m...
) is about 3 km east of the highway. Repairs on the highway began nearly immediately. From km 20 to km 38, SCT (Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes) contractors re-leveled the road and filled cracks.
The road to Puertecitos
The state route that starts in San Felipe and continues to PuertecitosPuertecitos
The town of Puertecitos is located 90 kilometers south of San Felipe, in the Mexican state of Baja California. Puertecitos is a tourist spot for both vacationers and expatriates from the United States. The Puertecitos bay, which was permanently settled in 1949 by Rafael Orozco, overlooks the Sea...
is a natural extension of the federal highway. It is an undivided, two-lane highway that has some rough spots and has many significant dips or fords where the highway meets normally-dry steams. One of the largest is labeled on the pavement in both directions as the "OH SHIT DIP."
Baja California
- MexicaliMexicaliMexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
intersection with Mexican Federal Highway 2 - El Chinero intersection with Mexican Federal Highway 3Mexican Federal Highway 3Mexican Federal Highway 3 is a Federal Highway of Mexico. One segment connects Tecate to Ensenada in Baja California. This segment ends at its junction with Mexican Federal Highway 1 at El Sauzal Rodriguez, just a little north of Ensenada...
north of San FelipeSan Felipe, Baja CaliforniaSan Felipe is a town on the Gulf of California in the Mexican state of Baja California, 190 km south of the United States border and within the municipality of Mexicali. It also serves as a borough seat of its surrouding area.... - Puertecitos