Mérida pedestrians face high risks due to lack of safe crossings

Pedestrians in Mérida continue to face significant risks due to a lack of safe crossing infrastructure. On Avenida de las Torres, between Ramón Rayón and Palacio de Mitla, individuals are frequently seen running through heavy traffic to reach workplaces, shops, or public transport. This dangerous behavior persists because no pedestrian bridge has been constructed, despite previous reports of fatalities in the area.

Traffic engineer and road auditor René Flores Ayora notes that while pedestrian bridges are essential on high-speed roads like the Periférico de Mérida—where 20 to 25 traffic fatalities occur annually—their effectiveness depends on design. He warns that poorly designed bridges with steep stairs or long routes often become ‘anti-pedestrian’ structures, prompting people to cross the asphalt instead.

Flores Ayora suggests that urban areas benefit most from level crossings with ramps and synchronized traffic lights. For high-speed peripheries, he recommends elevated or underground passages paired with longitudinal chain-link fencing to prevent direct crossings. He emphasizes that infrastructure decisions must be driven by traffic engineering studies, including pedestrian volume and accident data, to ensure the most dangerous points are addressed effectively.