Mexico 2 and Mexico 2-D - Baja California Travel Information

Mexico 2 and Mexico 2-D Baja California

	Faded Tijuana sign on westbound Mexico 2 in San Luis Colorado, Sonora. Photo taken 5/01.
	Westbound Mexico 2-D leaving the state of Sonora, entering Baja California. This colorful sign thanks the visitors of San Luis Colorado and wishes them a good journey. A distance sign is provided to the right of the sign, pointing to Mexicali, Tijuana, and Ensenada. Photo taken 5/01.
	Westbound Mexico 2 inspection station warning sign, one mile. This is located near the Sonora-Baja California Norte state line. Photo taken 5/01.
	Westbound Mexico 2 approaching the inspection station. Traffic is restricted to one lane at this point. This is the only such traffic restriction between San Luis Colorado and Mexicali. All vehicles must stop and indicate their reason for making the journey on Mexico 2 westbound. Photo taken 5/01.
	Mexico 2 between San Luis Colorado and Mexicali. Most of this land would be desert, but irrigation has opened it up to farming and other agricultural uses. Photo taken 5/01.
	Mexico 2 at Kilometer Post 15. The only reassurance markers for Mexico 2 between San Luis Colorado and Mexicali appear on the kilometer post and on the overhead signage at intersections. Kilometers increase from east to west. Photo taken 5/01.
	Distance sign to Mexicali (67 kilometers) along westbound Mexico 2. Photo taken 5/01.
	Along westbound Mexico 2 are several signs indicating proximity of schools and other institutions. This sign indicates that a Student Crossing is 400 meters ahead. Photo taken 5/01.
	At several intervals between San Luis Colorado and Mexicali, westbound Mexico 2 passes by several incarnations of Baja California Route 2. This is one such sign. It seems very confusing to have the same route number assigned to at five or six different roadways. The first sign is for southbound Baja California Route 2 to Ejido Sinaloa. The second sign is for southbound Baja California Route 2 to Ejido Mexico. The third sign is for southbound Baja California Route 2 to Ejido Tehuantepec. The fourth sign is for southbound Baja California Route 2 to Ejido Mezquital. The fifth sign is for northbound Baja California Route 2 to Los Algodones (sand dunes). Photos taken 5/01.

Site Navigation

	Westbound Mexico 2 at the Golfo de Santa Clara (Gulf of Santa Clara) turnoff. Photo taken 5/01.
	Most speed limit signs in Mexico are square signs with a red circle inside the sign. The appropriate speed limit is shown within the red circle, similar to this sign on eastbound Mexico 2-D. The speed limit of 80 kilometers per hour translates into approximately 50 miles per hour in English measurement. Photo taken 5/01.
	Westbound Mexico 2 entering the city of Mexicali. The large sign greeting visitors welcomes motorists to Mexicali ("Bienvenidos a Mexicali"). Traffic following Mexico 2 is instructed to stay left to reach Tecate, Ensenada, Tijuana, and San Felipe. San Felipe may be reached via Mexico 5, Ensenada may be reached via Mexico 2 to Mexico 3, and Tecate and Tijuana lie directly west of here on Mexico 2. Traffic wishing to reach downtown Mexicali should turn right at this point. In addition, making a right turn will take motorists to the border crossing ("Garita Internacional") into the United States and to Calexico, California. Note the Interstate 8 shield placed on the overhead sign. Both Interstate 8 and California 98 are located close to the border near Mexicali. The first overhead sign bridge is newer; the second one at the gore point is older. For some reason, both overhead signs are still in place. Both options (bypass and business routes) are signed as Mexico 2. Travelers that continue west along Mexico 2 to the left will find that the route is almost like following a maze of streets through residential, commercial, industrial, and even vacant portions of Mexicali. Travelers that enter the downtown area will continue to find Mexico 2 signage throughout, but the road travels through some heavily urbanized areas. Photo taken 5/01.
	Signage for the continuation of the bypass route of Mexico 2 around Mexicali. Photo taken 5/01.
	Northbound Mexico 5 and Westbound "Bypass" Mexico 2 approaching Junction "Business" Mexico 2 in Mexicali. The bypass and business designations are not used here, but this helps to clarify since there are two routings of Mexico 2 here. The Zero Kilometer Post of Mexico 5 (second photo) is located at this upcoming intersection, although signage for Mexico 5 may be found near the border crossing. Photo taken 5/01.

	Westbound Mexico 2-D distance sign upon entering the toll road west of Mexicali. The distances are in kilometers. Photo taken 5/01.
	This sign (located prior to the beginning of the Mexico 2-D toll road) points to a Pemex plant south of Mexico 2. The control city here is Tijuana, although Tecate is the next major destination. Pemex is the national gasoline manufacturer in Mexico; it is the only source for gasoline in the country, since it is nationalized (owned by the Mexican government). The power line in this photo leads north into the United States, and it connects with the American power grid at a large substation near California 98 south of Ocotillo. The American portion of the line is owned by San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) Company. Photo taken 5/01.
	Monument along transition from westbound Mexico 2 onto Mexico 2-D toll road. This monument signifies the beginning of the toll road and the current eastern terminus of Mexico 2-D. It is located in the median of the highway. A toll plaza is located just beyond this point. Photos taken 5/01.

	Distance sign to La Rumorosa, Tecate, and Tijuana along westbound. Photo taken 5/01.
	This jurisdictional sign along westbound indicates the end of the "county" (municipality) of Mexicali and the beginning of the "county" (municipality) of Tecate. "Termina" means "end," and "Principia" means "begin." Photo taken 5/01.
	Westbound Mexico 2-D toll road through a stark desert valley on the approach to La Rumorosa Grade. The power lines to the left (south) of the toll road roughly parallel Mexico 2-D from Mexicali to near Tijuana via Tecate. The mountains loom large in the distance. Photos taken 5/01.


	Signs such as this one along westbound Mexico 2-D remind motorists that slow traffic ("transito lento") should remain in the right lane. Other signs indicate that passing traffic should use the left lane. Photo taken 5/01.
	This picture was taken near the base of La Rumorosa Grade along westbound. Mexico 2 joins Mexico 2-D near the bottom of the grade, and the entire grade segment is free of tolls. This allows traffic the ability to ascend the grade without paying a toll charge. Signage along the grade only shows Mexico 2, but it is built to the standards of the Mexico 2-D toll road. For all intents and purposes, Mexico 2 and Mexico 2-D are cosigned over the grade. Photo taken 5/01.
	Westbound Mexico 2 and 2-D along La Rumorosa Grade. The freeway has many curves and doglegs as it ascends the mountain, and these photos show the distant cuts for the freeway. Photos taken 5/01.

	Views of the westbound lanes of Mexico 2 and 2-D ascending La Rumorosa as seen from a viewpoint on the way up the mountain. This is looking eastbound, with the low desert and Mexicali visible in the distance. Photos taken 5/01.



	Kilometer Post 55 on westbound Mexico 2-D on the grade up La Rumorosa. These kilometer posts are not consecutive with the kilometer posts east of Mexicali along Mexico 2. Note that this shield shows Mexico 2 rather than Mexico 2-D; this is likely because both Mexico 2 and Mexico 2-D run on the same alignment on the grade up La Rumorosa. What used to be Mexico 2 is now one of the carriageway leading one way on Mexico 2D. Photo taken 5/01.
	View of westbound lanes looking east from the rest stop near Kilometer Post 55. Photo taken 5/01.
	Mexico 2 and 2-D take a very windy course to cross La Rumorosa Grade, which brings the highway from sea level elevation to 4,000 feet. This photo shows a typical elevation sign used in Baja California Norte, which in this case is 500 meters above sea level. Photo taken 5/01.
	Falling rocks signs along Mexico 2-D. These graphical signs are much easier for non-Spanish speaking drivers to understand the warning. Photo taken 5/01.
	Westbound Mexico 2-D and Mexico 2 split at top of La Rumorosa. Mexico 2 resumes as a separate two-lane highway upon reaching the top of the La Rumorosa Grade. After this exit, traffic remaining on the mainline must pay a toll. As noted earlier, traffic ascending La Rumorosa does not have to pay a toll if motorists followed the original two-lane highway, Mexico 2. Both Mexico 2 and Mexico 2-D lead to Tecate, but Mexico 2-D follows the toll road. Photo taken 5/01.
	Signage for Mexico 2-D to Tijuana after the La Rumorosa summit. Some overhead signs are very small and are not easy to read at high speed. Photo taken 5/01.
	The first photo shows the approaching U-turn ("Retorno") at the top of La Rumorosa along westbound, and the second photo shows the signage at the U-turn. This is actually an exit to Fracc Branchetti, and it connects to the old road (Mexico 2). Mexico 2 leads to the town of Rumorosa and provides a free alternate route to Tecate and Tijuana. The third photo shows the options of taking Mexico 2 (libre, or free) or Mexico 2-D (cuota, or toll) to reach Tijuana. Photo taken 5/01.


	The freeway changes once it reaches the top of La Rumorosa. From here, the freeway runs straight through some high-altitude desert environment, but much more grows on the land here than in the lower-elevation desert near Mexicali because of the increased annual average precipitation. Note the very narrow median (essentially a Jersey Barrier) and minimal left-hand shoulders. These views are of Mexico 2-D headed westbound. Photos taken 5/01.

	Mexico 2-D, like parallel Interstate 8 to the north, crosses some beautiful mountainous terrain between La Rumorosa Grade and Tecate. These views are typical of the scenery in this region. As seen in these photos, the freeway is relatively deserted. Photo taken 5/01.




	Drive with Caution sign along westbound. Photo taken 5/01.
	Dangerous Curve Ahead, 600 Meters warning sign. The next photo shows the actual curve. Photo taken 5/01.
	Dangerous Curve Ahead, 200 Meters sign. This sign is placed on a tight curve that requires motorists to slow down to 80 kilometers per hour, or about 50 miles per hour. The warning sign is very similar to the ones found on California highways when approaching tight turns, with the tipping truck. Photo taken 5/01.
	Westbound Mexico 2-D through mountainous terrain approaching Tecate. The warning sign reads "Maneje con Precaucion," which means "Drive with Caution." For travelers to the United States, the first border crossing on westbound since Mexicali is available in Tecate via northbound Mexico 3. Mexico 3 changes into California 188 upon entering the United States, and it connects to California 94. Photo taken 5/01.
	This sign bridge is located on westbound as it approaches Tecate. The actual exit signage is shown in the next photo. Photo taken 5/01.
	View of Tecate from westbound Mexico 2-D looking north. Photo taken 5/01.
	View of overhead signage for Mexico 2 and Mexico 3 in downtown Tecate. Photos taken 6/98.


	Westbound Mexico 2-D at Junction Mexico 2 to Mexico 3 South, Ensenada. The sign to Tecate indicates that access if provided via the Free Road, which is Mexico 2. Mexico 2 acts as a business route into Tecate from the toll road. This is the main exit into Tecate, and it features a rather unusual interchange configuration because this used to be the eastern terminus of the freeway before the extension over La Rumorosa to Mexicali was constructed. Mexico 3, which is also accessed from this interchange, leads north into to the United States from here (via California 188) and southwest to Ensenada. Mexico 3 ultimately terminates at its junction with Mexico 5 near San Felipe on the coast of the Gulf of California. It is not clear why this sign shows Mexico 3 as Mexico 3-D. Photo taken 5/01.
	Westbound Mexico 2-D at Kilometer Post 115. This is close to Tijuana. Compare this kilometer post to the distance sign located west of Mexicali. Photo taken 5/01.
	Westbound Mexico 2-D approaching the western toll plaza. This is the last toll plaza along westbound. Somewhere in this general vicinity, the future Tijuana 2000 Beltway is planned to meet Mexico 2-D. This toll beltway will start at a new port of entry and border crossing a few miles east of Otay Mesa, and it will connect with new California 11 in the United States. The beltway will also lead south and west from Mexico 2-D, connecting with Mexico 1-D between Rosarito Beach and Tijuana. In this photo, the City of Tijuana is located over the next hill in the distance. Photo taken 5/01.
	Welcome to Tijuana (Worldwide Capital of the Television) along westbound Mexico 2-D. This marks the western terminus of Mexico 2-D. There are occasional signs of Mexico 2 and Mexico 2-D, but most signage will point to the border, downtown ("centro"), or Mexico 1-D. This section of Tijuana is a major manufacturing location, home to several "maquiladoras," which are generally manufacturing facilities for foreign companies. As evidenced in the sign, most televisions in the world are manufactured in Tijuana; however, many other products are also produced in Tijuana. These plants provide jobs for millions of residents of Tijuana, and the jobs are an attractive source of revenue for many Mexicans from the interior, where such plants are not as common. This has resulted in a major population explosion in Tijuana. Photo taken 5/01.
	Westbound Mexico 2 approaching Baja California Route 1. Photo taken 5/01.

Page Updated July 23, 2002.