Sep 25, 2018
Flooding in Mexico/ Hwy 15
Sadly Sonora and Sinaloa were recently affected with major flooding due to a tropical storm. Highway 15 from Nogales to points south including Mazatlan has been shut down.
So sad to see this lovely new highway broken.
I am only posting about this as I have been getting several emails per day from RVers asking me if I know what is happening and when will everything be fixed. I have no answers. However the Mexican people are most resilient and creative and I believe that the repairs or bypasses won’t be long in coming.
It is going to take some time to deal with this emergency.
We have been in contact with friends in Culiacan and Guasave and they have not been directly affected. Having said that, everyone is affected, from us about to travel down that road in November,o those living in the area needing to get the basics, shelter, food and water. Even those not directly affected rely on that highway to bring in the goods that cities need to survive on a day to day basis.
Here is a link to what is being suggested as an alternate routes. Click here. Personally we would not do any of those. However we remain optimistic that everything is being done to facilitate a much easier detour. It is early days yet and assessments are only now just being done. I have heard that some are being diverted to the libre Highway 15 but that at the moment there are restrictions to vehicle weight etc.
As soon as there is more news it will be posted to the various media outlets. This seems to be a very good place to check https://themazatlanpost.com/. Thank you for that Nancy. I just now received an email from blog reader Bob, who likely will be crossing into Mexico earlier than we will and promises to update me so that I can update all of you. I will try and keep you informed the best I can, but we are heading out in just over 24 hours and for the two weeks internet will be limited. If someone has some information please email me ( top right corner of the blog ) and I will post it for the rest of you. That includes what you experienced when you went through that area and photos if you have them.
I apologize for my delay in posting about this incident ( I was waiting for more information about a permanent detour ) but many of you are obviously on the ball. I appreciate all your emails regarding the flooding. Please don’t worry. In our over twenty years of driving down to Mexico and what we have experienced over the years, I honestly believe that this will be resolved in a way that will make your journey South a safe trip, perhaps with a few adventures 😉
Meanwhile the loading of the RV continues. Stay tuned for the adventures to come.
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nice that you can update those form areas, does not look good, Safe travels when you go to Mexico.
Soon you will be all packed and on the road.
That Baja route then ferry to Mazatlan would be an expensive route to take, I would think.
We don’t plan to enter Mexico until November and many people who go to Las Jaibas will be ahead of us. We’ll wait for updates and I too will post what I hear. The mexican people are resilient and quite able to fix any problem that is thrown at them. We’ll wait for news as time passes. Safe travels.
Wow, I hadn’t heard about that flooding – so sad, but as you say, Mexican’s are an extremely resilient bunch and will figure it out. You’ll be on the road in no time now 🙂
Contessa, was simply floored at the pictures you provided of the damage created by a tropical depression in Mexico; the structure of the bridges seemed to be undermined quite easily. If you are not sure that the detour route would handle the weight of your motorhome, why not contact some “Green Angels” maybe while you are in San Carlos, pay them to privately scout out the route ahead, and have them physically lead you around the questionable portions of the detours. Kevin and Ruth Read used them when leading a large caravan last year, and they cleared the way and scouted for them. In view of the damage to this main artery in Mexico, paying the Green Angels a little money to get you through the detour may be worthwhile.
Friends on the way to Guayabitos went through that area September 24 – there were no detour signs up and they said you need a good GPS to get through that area. Did not elaborate on the route they took – they are 40 feet long and tow a pick-up.
Good year for that extra time in the US — gives Mexico time to sort out a detour for Mx-15! I think a convoy/caravan to Durango and then Durango cuota to Maz might actually be the easiest solution.
Wow that is some serious damage! I hope things work out for the trip to your RV park.