C.M.W..MaóThe ecological group GOB has put forward a document which analyses the main road between Maó and Ciutadella and suggests ways of improving traffic flow and easing congestion.
The group´s president, Sergi Marí, and the study´s co-ordinator, Miquel Camps, last week presented four proposals for the Me-1, "the backbone of Menorca´s road network", with GOB backing the project which would have the least impact on the countryside. This involves widening the hard shoulders to up to 2.5 metres which would give a road width of 12 metres without increasing the number of lanes. This would allow the hard shoulders to be used by slow vehicles, such as tractors, excavators, motorcycles and bicycles. With adequate signs, the hard shoulders could also be used as slip roads for vehicles joining or leaving the main road. It would be a solution for those stretches of road where the geography does not allow the construction of lanes for slow vehicles and would have little impact on the environment. The suggested maximum speed is between 90 and 100 km/h.
The study looks at various basic considerations. The first problem detected is the difficulty of overtaking a slow vehicle, especially on the sections beween Maó and Alaior and Ciutadella and Ferreries. In the former case the density of traffic is similar in winter and summer, the worst times being at 0800 hrs. and 1900 hrs. in winter and also at 1100 hrs. in summer due to tourists.
There is no traffic congestion on the section between Alaior and Ferreries in winter nor summer, according to GOB, whilst the "rush hours" on the Ferreries to Ciutadella stretch are at 1100 hrs. and 1900 hrs. during the summer months.
The group points out that the island is not subject to major traffic jams such as in the cities but admits that when the traffic is particularly slow-moving it often leads to drivers losing their tempers and overtaking in dangerous situations.
The possibility of constructing a third lane for slow vehicles is practically rejected by the ecological group due to the geography of the island as, to be effective, a slow lane needs to be uphill - if it were on the level it would add to the danger. The only place where another slow lane could be constructed is the Pla Verd hill leading up to Ferreries.
Another consideration to be taken into account, according to GOB, is the congestion at entraces and exits to Maó and Ciutadella and the suggestion is that car parks be built on the outskirts of the towns to relieve the problem.
The group believes that increasing public transport, especially for the tourists, would help to reduce traffic density and also says that measures need to be taken to reduce the high number of wild animals which are killed on the roads, especially tortoises, hedgehogs and small mammals.
