Traffic jams after Lima's Historic Center access restrictions: buses stranded and passengers walking

New vehicular restrictions implemented by the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima have thrown the capital's historic center into chaos, causing significant traffic jams and forcing commuters to abandon their vehicles.

The plan, which restricts vehicle access within a polygon defined by major avenues like Tacna, Garcilaso de la Vega, 9 de Diciembre (Paseo Colón), and Miguel Grau, along with streets Paruro and Amazonas, took effect early Thursday. The immediate impact was severe, with major intersections like 9 de Octubre and Abancay experiencing heavy congestion around 8:00 a.m.

Hundreds of citizens were seen disembarking from public transport and walking long distances to reach their workplaces and commercial activities. Many pedestrians traveled from areas like the Ricardo Palma bridge and the Acho bus stop, covering several kilometers on foot due to the blocked routes.

While the municipality aims to manage traffic flow in the historic center, the sudden implementation has created considerable difficulties for drivers and public transport users, especially during peak commuting hours. As of now, municipal authorities have not detailed any complementary measures to assist those affected by the new restrictions.