Despite the addition of new traffic lights and signage in various areas of Mérida, certain roads experience significant traffic jams during rush hours.
One of the most reported issues is the entrance to the Caucel subdivision. Despite previous administrations opening at least three additional accesses from the ring road to this densely populated residential area in the west, traffic congestion remains a problem. The entrance features a roundabout on the ring road that connects to the main road, but the connection to side streets, including those used by public transport, overwhelms traffic regulation.
Peak Traffic Times
Traffic congestion can cause delays of up to 40 minutes during peak hours, specifically between 7:00 and 8:30 in the morning and from 6:00 to 7:30 in the evening. According to the State Public Security Secretariat (SSP), the vehicle fleet in the state reached 1,102,172 units by June of this year, contributing to road saturation.
Need for Traffic Studies
Traffic engineer René Flores Ayora emphasized the need for comprehensive traffic studies to diagnose the situation. These studies should analyze vehicle and pedestrian capacities, speed at specific points, travel time, capacity levels, and service levels. Additionally, a traffic light analysis may be necessary.
Recent Measures
Six new traffic lights were recently installed at the roundabout near the Real Montejo subdivision, connecting with Francisco de Montejo. However, during certain hours, SSP traffic officers still need to manage traffic manually.
Flores Ayora suggested that the first step is to ensure proper horizontal and vertical signage, including lane delimitation, directional arrows, pedestrian crossings, speed signs, and lane usage indicators.
Source: Sipse
