Local motorists have been startled to discover that a new traffic light has been installed along the short stretch of highway running through San Antonio Tlayacapan.
The new signal was erected at the corner of Calle Independencia, at the busy intersection that is a main exit from the parking area in front of Superlake and Licorería Paz. Two other traffic lights were already in place to the east, at Calle Jesús García, and west, at San José-Allen W. Lloyd.
According to Chapala Traffic Department Director Moisés Ochoa, the third device was installed to improve the flow of vehicles through the commercial corridor and allow safe passage for pedestrians crossing the roadway. However, many motorists are complaining the added light is provoking traffic jams, with cars, trucks and buses traveling east to west seen backed up during peak hours all the way to Riberas del Pilar. Some have noticed that it is now practically impossible to get through the gauntlet without hitting two red lights.
Another problem is that many drivers turn off the highway at Independencia to enter the lateral service road against oncoming traffic. Independencia is a one-way street that runs south to north towards the highway intersection. Like all lateral roads, the ones in San Antonio are also one-way thoroughfares that should be traveled legally only in the same direction as the nearest lane of the highway.