Wrong way drivers downtown a nuisance in Mexico

By: Dave Faries, Editor
Posted 8/18/21

It can be startling to see a vehicle traveling the wrong direction on Mexico's one way streets. It happens frequently enough that the city used grant money to commission a study of the one way blocks …

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Wrong way drivers downtown a nuisance in Mexico

Posted

It can be startling to see a vehicle traveling the wrong direction on Mexico's one way streets. It happens frequently enough that the city used grant money to commission a study of the one way blocks around the downtown square and another may be in the works.

The city's draft budget for the next fiscal year includes matching funds for a new traffic study. The first report, completed by the engineering firm Bartlett and West and presented to city officials earlier this summer, outlined the pros and cons of a return to two way traffic on parts of Washington, Jefferson, Jackson and Monroe streets.

"The end result is that you can change to two way traffic, but the impact of doing that would be fairly significant," explained Public Works director Kinsey Russell.

A major issue would be the loss of parking. The lanes required for traffic to run in both directions would eliminate parking on at least one side of each street.

Complicating the matter is the city's commitment to one way traffic around the square. Some intersections would require work to improve sight lines or prevent turning vehicles from entering part of the square.

Yet an informal survey over recent weeks found at least one vehicle -- and some days up to five -- drive the wrong way on East Monroe alone during business hours.

But Russell believes the problem can be reduced through less drastic means.

"The current wrong way traffic is a different problem to solve," he said. "Signage could be part of the answer."

Mexico is currently upgrading traffic signs around the city.

The idea to establish blocks of one direction traffic into and out of the square came after a traffic study some 30 years ago. Public Works decided to commission a new study after local merchants suggested two way traffic might boost business.

The scope and purpose of the traffic study itemized in the draft budget has not been finalized.


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