Traffic Congestion Grips Lima as Historic Center Closes for Protest

Lima's municipality has implemented a temporary closure of the Historic Center to vehicular traffic, a measure causing significant congestion and citizen complaints. The restriction, effective from Friday, June 19, to Monday, June 22, aims to manage an anticipated mobilization by supporters of Juntos por el Perú. This group plans to protest following the second round of elections.

Citizens have reported difficulties accessing the historic area, with traffic monitoring showing reduced flow on key avenues like Abancay and Grau. Some streets, such as Jr. de la Unión and Jr. Conde de Superunda, have seen minimal vehicle movement.

In response to the disruptions, the Ministry of Labor and Promotion of Employment (MTPE) has urged both public and private sector employers to prioritize teleworking and offer flexible entry and exit times for affected employees. This directive is intended to ease the commuting challenges posed by the municipal restrictions.

The perimeter affected by the closure includes avenues Tacna, Garcilaso de la Vega, 9 de diciembre, Miguel Grau, and jirones Paruro, Amazonas, as well as the area around the Rímac River. The measure is set to remain in place until midnight on June 22.