Mex 57 traffic

[Wm_Elliot]

Riding south from Saltillo yesterday we encountered miles of slow moving or stopped traffic northbound between Matehuala and Saltillo. It looked like traffic evacuating ahead of a hurricane, lines stretching for miles - mostly all semis. Granted, there was construction where traffic was reduced to one lane and one of the jams was caused by a checkpoint.
What struck me is how much Mexico has changed in the 20 years we have been visiting.
Was this heavy traffic because it was Friday, or another reason, does anyone have any suggestions for the best time to ride this route when we leave in a month?

[daveB110]

We loved our only visit to Zacatecas. Our only advice would be to not try to drive in the city. Maybe park at the gondola parking (of course with your towed vehicle) and take taxis down town. Then catch the double decker sight seeing bus. We were the only people doing that then and had a good fellow doing the explanations along the route. We had told the driver we would want to take their tour, but only after we had our lunch, and they were there waiting for us (it seemed). We don't usually look at the churches anywhere we go, but one there was extrodinary, with the work done on the outside. We did drive into the city, but the roads are so narrow and unless you knew the city your chances of getting lost are very high- we needed a taxi to show us out of town as we were hopelessly lost!

[wolfe10]

Depending on our destination, we take the Saltillo Zacatecas route.

Zac is one of our favorites.

[qtla9111]

We have traveled Hwy 57 four times back and forth in the last year. It has gotten worse and for several different reasons, all of which you have mentioned.

Our biggest delay was in December on our way to Jalisco. The paisanos were heading back in droves and there was an actual back up of traffic at the Parador San Pedro for miles solely due to the sheer number of vehicles entering and exiting the rest stop to buy food and fuel.

The road work is second with the checkpoints coming in at third. The highway has improved considerably and lets hope it gets better unless our new president decides that his austerity program should also include federal highways.

The alternative would be the highway from Saltillo to Zacatecas and beyond. They say it adds an additional hour and a half but with road delays on the 57 it could a tie.