A pilot scheme designed to make the centre of Jesús more pedestrian-friendly has triggered concerns among residents of Calle Estruç, who say traffic has increased noticeably since the new road layout was introduced.

Santa Eulària des Riu Town Hall met with residents of the street on September 9 to hear their concerns and discuss possible changes to the traffic arrangements.

The council says the purpose of the pilot is precisely to measure how traffic behaves under the new system before deciding whether any permanent changes should be introduced.

Residents broadly support the idea of making the centre of Jesús safer and more pedestrian-friendly, but they are concerned that traffic removed from the village centre could be transferred onto residential streets.

Residents Report More Traffic on Calle Estruç

During the meeting, residents told Mayor Carmen Ferrer and Jesús parish councillors Francisca Guasch and Juan Jesús Planells that traffic on Calle Estruç has increased significantly since the pilot began.

One of their main concerns is the speed at which some vehicles are travelling through the residential street.

Residents also said they would have preferred more information before the new traffic system came into operation.

The concerns have prompted the town hall to consider additional measures while the trial continues.

A Traffic Camera Will Be Installed

One of the first measures announced by the municipality is the installation of a surveillance camera on Calle Estruç.

The aim is to monitor traffic and allow authorities to respond to inappropriate speeds reported by residents.

The camera is intended to provide greater oversight of a street that has become more important as part of the temporary traffic network around the pedestrianised section of central Jesús.

The municipality is also continuing to examine whether the current routing is producing the desired results.

Why Was the Jesús Traffic System Changed?

The pilot scheme began on August 28 and involves the partial pedestrianisation of the centre of Jesús.

Around 100 metres of the EI-100A, the road running through the centre of the village, has been closed to through traffic.

The objective is to create a safer and more accessible public space for pedestrians while testing how the change affects traffic throughout the surrounding area.

The closure means vehicles travelling between Ibiza, Cala Llonga and Cap Martinet can no longer simply pass through the centre of Jesús along the EI-100A.

Instead, they have been directed onto alternative routes.

The Original Diversion Runs Through Estruç

Under the initial pilot arrangement, vehicles arriving from Ibiza and travelling towards Cala Llonga or Cap Martinet are diverted through Calle Gavina, Calle Estruç and Calle Tucà before reconnecting with the EI-100A.

Traffic travelling in the opposite direction follows the same route in reverse.

This means Calle Estruç has become part of the alternative route for vehicles that previously travelled directly through the centre.

The latest meeting suggests that the diversion has had an unintended consequence for some residents.

The council says the objective is not to move the problem from central Jesús into residential streets.

The Council Wants Through-Traffic to Stay Outside the Village

Santa Eulària says the long-term objective is to remove traffic that has no reason to enter Jesús itself.

Vehicles travelling towards areas such as Can Furnet, Can Lluís, the Santa Bàrbara quarry, Ca na Putxa, Roca Llisa and the golf course are expected to use the surrounding road network wherever possible.

The proposed strategy is to use the EI-300 and its connection with the Cala Llonga road rather than passing through the village centre.

The same principle applies to vehicles travelling to or from Cap Martinet.

The aim is to separate local traffic accessing Jesús from traffic simply crossing the parish.

The Municipality Does Not Want to Simply Move the Problem

Mayor Carmen Ferrer stressed that the purpose of the project is not to transfer traffic removed from the centre onto Calle Estruç or other residential roads.

Instead, the intention is to encourage vehicles with no destination in Jesús to use the external road network.

This distinction is central to the current review.

The council says that traffic counts are being carried out throughout the pilot period to determine which roads are being used and whether the current system is creating undesirable concentrations.

The data will then be used to assess what needs to change.

Calle Tucà Could Return to Two-Way Traffic

One of the alternatives discussed during the meeting is restoring two-way traffic on Calle Tucà.

The council believes that this could make journeys to and from Cap Martinet more efficient and potentially reduce pressure on Calle Estruç.

Under the current configuration, traffic patterns have changed significantly as a consequence of the pedestrianisation trial.

Restoring two-way traffic on Tucà could therefore provide another route for vehicles and help distribute movements more evenly.

However, the proposal is still being considered rather than confirmed as a permanent measure.

Heavy Vehicles Are Also Part of the Discussion

The meeting also addressed the movement of heavy vehicles.

The municipality has already taken measures in Cap Martinet aimed at finding a balance between the needs of traffic and the quality of life of residents, including restrictions affecting heavier vehicles.

A similar concern exists on Calle Estruç.

The town hall says it needs to prevent the residential street from absorbing traffic that could instead travel along the external road network.

This is particularly relevant if the street is experiencing both a higher volume of traffic and vehicles travelling at excessive speeds.

The Trial Continues Until the End of September

The current arrangement is not a permanent pedestrianisation project.

It is a pilot scheme that is scheduled to continue until the end of September.

During the trial, municipal officials are collecting traffic counts and other information to establish how the system is performing.

That data will then be compared with feedback from residents and other road users.

The council says the results will help determine which aspects work, which need modification and what other alternatives could be considered.

The Taxi Rank Has Also Been Moved

The pilot has involved several changes beyond the main road closure.

The existing Jesús taxi rank was moved a short distance and is now located in front of the Cultural Centre.

A connecting section between Calle Faisà and Calle Gavina has also changed direction of travel to facilitate access for taxis and delivery vehicles.

These adjustments form part of the temporary traffic arrangements introduced during the pedestrianisation test.

Access to the Public Car Park Remains Available

Despite the partial road closure, the public car park at Plaza de Jesús remains accessible during the pilot.

Access is provided from Calle Gavina, with drivers required to follow the temporary signage and instructions in place.

Maintaining access to the car park is intended to ensure that the pedestrianisation experiment does not cut off an important parking facility for residents and visitors.

The Challenge of Changing Traffic Patterns

Traffic schemes of this kind can create significant knock-on effects.

Closing one section of a main road does not make the traffic disappear. Vehicles have to find alternative routes, and those routes can create increased pressure on streets that previously carried much less traffic.

That is exactly what residents of Calle Estruç say they are now experiencing.

The municipality's response is to use the pilot as an opportunity to identify those consequences before deciding on a permanent design.

Residents Support the Idea of a More Pedestrian Jesús

Importantly, the residents who attended the meeting did not reject the pedestrianisation project itself.

According to the town hall, they share the objective of making the centre of Jesús more pedestrian-friendly and improving the overall environment of the village.

Their concern is where the traffic goes as a result.

For residents, the success of the project will depend not only on reducing cars in the centre but also on ensuring that neighbouring residential streets are not left dealing with excessive traffic and speeding.

A More Accessible Centre Is the Long-Term Goal

Santa Eulària has made the pacification of parish centres one of its broader municipal commitments.

The aim is to give pedestrians more space and create safer, more accessible village centres.

Jesús is being used as a testing ground for how such a change can be achieved while maintaining access for residents, businesses, taxis, deliveries and essential services.

The council says the current arrangement is based on technical criteria but is not a final solution.

Decisions Will Be Based on Real Traffic Data

A key feature of the pilot is the collection of actual traffic data.

Rather than relying solely on forecasts, the municipality is measuring vehicle movements on the different affected streets.

That information should make it possible to identify where traffic has increased, whether alternative routes are functioning as intended and whether certain streets are being overloaded.

The feedback from Calle Estruç residents is now another part of that evidence.

Residents Will Have a Say in the Permanent Solution

The town hall has stressed that any permanent solution will be subject to the appropriate administrative process.

Once the pilot has been evaluated, a future project would be presented publicly so residents and other members of the community could review it, submit suggestions and make formal objections where appropriate.

That means the current pilot is not being presented as the final design for Jesús.

Instead, it is intended to provide the information needed to create a permanent system with fewer unintended consequences.

The Balance Between Pedestrians and Residents

The experience of Calle Estruç highlights one of the biggest challenges involved in urban pedestrianisation.

Reducing traffic in a central area can improve conditions for pedestrians, businesses and public life.

But if the resulting traffic is concentrated on quiet residential streets, residents can experience increased noise, congestion and safety concerns.

For Jesús, the success of the project will therefore depend on achieving both objectives at the same time.

A Test for Jesús and Santa Eulària

The pilot in Jesús is part of a wider conversation about how Ibiza's villages should evolve.

As municipalities seek to make their centres more pedestrian-friendly and attractive, they must also consider how traffic can be redirected without creating new problems elsewhere.

The situation on Calle Estruç is providing an early example of that challenge.

The town hall says it is responding by monitoring the street, considering changes to the road network and listening directly to residents.

What Happens Next

The immediate focus will be the continuation of the pilot until the end of September.

During the remaining weeks, traffic counts will continue and the new surveillance camera will provide additional information on vehicle speeds along Calle Estruç.

The possibility of restoring two-way traffic on Calle Tucà will also be considered as part of the effort to reduce pressure on residential streets.

Once the trial ends, the municipality will assess the data and feedback before deciding what changes may be appropriate.

Jesús' Pedestrianisation Enters a Critical Test

The experiment in Jesús was designed to take traffic away from the heart of the village and create a safer, more pedestrian-friendly centre.

Early feedback has shown that achieving that objective is more complicated than simply closing a section of road.

Residents of Calle Estruç say their street has seen a significant increase in traffic, with vehicle speeds among their main concerns.

Santa Eulària Town Hall now has several weeks of traffic monitoring and resident feedback to determine whether the current arrangement can work with adjustments or whether a different approach will be needed.

The project remains open, and the municipality has made clear that the final solution should protect the pedestrian character of central Jesús without simply transferring its traffic problems to residential streets.