Traffic between Caleta and Mattoral?

[Ducks]

Is it my imagination, or has traffic between Caleta and Mattoral gone completely bonkers? 

Walked out to China Town yesterday from Caleta at about 4pm, and when coming back at 5.30, the road was chocker block from the Atlantico side of the Bus Station all the way to Mattoral. I feel like this is a relatively new thing— last spring/summer I was up and down to Ikea two or three times as a week as we were trying to get the house done, and I never remember seeing anything like that. It's the worst I have seen it, but since we came back in November, it seems quite bad most evenings.

Has traffic gotten worse lately? Is it always like this at this time of year? Was there just an accident yesterday and I couldn't see it? I'd appreciate anyone's insights on this matter!

[Captain Sensible]

There was an accident yesterday afternoon that caused problems.

However, traffic in general has increased dramatically on the Caleta - Puerto road over the past 2 months.  

I've been driving that road for the last 15 years and I've never been involved in such long lines of traffic before.  At what time cars would overtake but now there's no chance of that.

IKEA, China Town,  Mercadona etc have caused the road to be so much busier.

[Spitfire58]

I noticed the last couple of times we were out that traffic on that stretch was a lot busier. Any news yet of the bypass that is supposed to be going behind Chipmunk?? That would be a big help IMHO

[Ducks]

Haven't Mercadona been there a long time? And IKEA has been there how long now?

I can't believe China Town has caused all this, has it? It is always very busy at the checkout no matter when you go!

Maybe it will calm down a bit now as peak time is ending...

[Johnrgby]

I was having a conversation with Captain S,s son about a year ago, and he told me then that he had read that's this stretch of road is the busiest on The Island, and I can well believe it.

[Captain Sensible]

It will be interesting to see if things quieten down a bit now that the initial interest in China Town has gone.

I don't think that the layout of the road system there helps the flow of traffic, because of the immediate turn off the roundabout and into the road up past IKEA/Kookaburra etc.  It slows traffic down.  There is also the problem of vehicles exiting the industrial estate and then going all the way round the island to go back on to the industrial estate.

From what I last read, the proposed Caleta bypass is still at the early planning stage. I saw plans about 12 years ago for it - even before they started the dunes bypass.

[Spitfire58]

It will be interesting to see if things quieten down a bit now that the initial interest in China Town has gone.

I don't think that the layout of the road system there helps the flow of traffic, because of the immediate turn off the roundabout and into the road up past IKEA/Kookaburra etc.  It slows traffic down.  There is also the problem of vehicles exiting the industrial estate and then going all the way round the island to go back on to the industrial estate.

From what I last read, the proposed Caleta bypass is still at the early planning stage. I saw plans about 12 years ago for it - even before they started the dunes bypass.

Thanks CS, so no point in pinning our hopes on the bypass then 

[Sam]

There is also the problem of vehicles exiting the industrial estate and then going all the way round the island to go back on to the industrial estate.

I used to use the road passing the main entrance to the former IKEA store. The choice is long gone now with the new building and marking the road as one way.

Thanks CS, so no point in pinning our hopes on the bypass then 

I wouldn't expect the bypass to be built anytime soon. In the past few years I've seen the plan mentioned in the news only once. In army related article.