Santiago's Plaza Baquedano sees 67% drop in peak hour traffic speed post-roundabout removal

Vehicle speeds in Santiago's Plaza Baquedano have plummeted by 67% during peak hours following the removal of a roundabout, according to a study by the Interdisciplinary Center for Data Science at the Universidad Diego Portales (UDP). The project, part of the Nueva Alameda initiatives, compared traffic conditions before and after construction between 2024 and 2026.

Vehicles that previously traveled at 80% of the maximum allowed speed now move at only 26%. The study also noted a spillover effect, with traffic congestion shifting to access and exit routes like Alameda, Avenida Providencia, and Avenida Vicuña Mackenna, as well as previously less-trafficked adjacent streets.

The primary bottleneck appears to be on the westbound route. This is partly due to the project designating two lanes exclusively for public buses, leaving only one for private vehicles. The mayor of Providencia, Jaime Bellolio, acknowledged the significant "traffic jam" experienced when descending Providencia to access Alameda, noting that the area, once a roundabout, is now an open space for public use.

In response, Bellolio's municipality has proposed that the middle lane no longer be exclusively for buses. They are awaiting approval from the Ministry of Transport to repaint the lane markings, indicating that both buses and private vehicles can use it. This measure aims to ease the congestion that has emerged following the traffic flow redesign.