The City Council of Vic is launching a pilot scheme for traffic calming on Jaume I El Conqueridor street with a one-way system and wider pavements. The measure, which starts this week, will last for six months.
The City Council of Vic has announced a pilot scheme for traffic calming on Jaume I El Conqueridor street to reduce through traffic and improve road safety. The main novelty is the implementation of a one-way traffic system for vehicles on the stretch between Misericòrdia street and Manlleu street, heading west. Additionally, the space for pedestrians will be expanded on the south side of the street with urban furniture.
A resident demand addressed after a traffic study
The measure responds to a request from the residents of the street and the Caputxins neighbourhood association. The mobility study conducted by the City Council revealed that Jaume I street was acting as an inner ring road, absorbing a volume of traffic higher than that of a secondary road. Insufficient pavements were also detected, especially near three educational centres, along with a combination of high traffic, speeding, and two-way traffic that generated pressure on pedestrians.
The Councillor for Mobility, Guillem Membrives, presented the proposal to residents in a meeting last week, where he received majority support. “It’s for traffic calming, not pedestrianisation or a pedestrian island with restricted access,” Membrives clarified.
Details of the pilot scheme and changes on Sant Sebastià street
The pilot scheme keeps the rest of the road configuration on Jaume I street unchanged: two-way traffic is maintained between Misericòrdia street and the roundabout on Roda road, and between Pare Coll street and Manlleu street. All parking spaces, loading and unloading areas, and spaces for reduced mobility are retained, as well as the operation of emergency services.
An additional change affects Sant Sebastià street, where the direction of traffic is reversed on the stretch between Nou street and Sant Antoni street to facilitate residents' access to the Eixample Morató. Signage work will begin this week, and the pilot scheme is expected to last for six months.
Monitoring and evaluation with residents
The City Council of Vic emphasises that this is a temporary measure. Over the next six months, there will be a monitoring of traffic evolution on Jaume I street. Once the period ends, in January 2027, the measure will be evaluated together with the residents before making a final decision.
For drivers who usually use Jaume I street as a thoroughfare, the recommendation is to seek alternative routes during the trial period. Residents, for their part, will be able to enjoy a safer environment with more space for pedestrians, especially in areas close to educational centres.
