San Pedro Town Council tests two new one-way streets

The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) began testing two new one-way traffic routes in the town center on Wednesday, September 17th. Temporary barriers have been placed on the street beside the Hol Chan Marine Reserve office and along the waterfront near Caliente Restaurant. The changes are intended to improve traffic flow and ease congestion.
The movable barriers prevent vehicles from traveling in both directions on those stretches while drivers adjust to the new routes. Speaking on September 23rd, the council’s Traffic Department manager said the aim is to “stop the traffic flow from going and coming” along the affected streets. The temporary setup lets the department monitor how the changes work before installing permanent signs.
Managing traffic remains a challenge in central San Pedro, where streets have limited capacity and golf carts share the roads with other vehicles. Barrier Reef Drive, formerly known as Front Street, and sections of Pescador Drive, or Middle Street, have operated as one-way routes for years. Back Street remains open to two-way traffic.
The Traffic Department manager said the first week of the trial “hasn’t been too bad,” although some drivers are still following the routes they are used to. “People still are getting used to going the new directions,” the manager said. The barriers will remain in place during the testing period, “before we do the final installation of the signs.”
Drivers have expressed mixed views. Some said the one-way routes help traffic move through the area, while others questioned whether the changes address the town center’s parking needs. One driver said, “The focus needs to be on getting parking areas confirmed.”
The SPTC plans to install permanent signs after the monitoring period. Traffic wardens will then help drivers follow the new routes and may issue fines where necessary.