New roundabout in Son Verí Nou to ease accident hotspot

New roundabout in Son Verí Nou to ease accident hotspot

€2.4 million for improved safety on a busy stretch near Llucmajor

On a windy morning, when the first delivery vans roll towards Palma through the suburbs and the traffic noise slowly rises, a new roundabout at Son Verí Nou was officially opened this week. A handful of construction workers, a few curious residents and the steady hum of cars formed the backdrop for the inauguration by the Consell de Mallorca.

The bare numbers say a lot: over the past six years more than fifty accidents were recorded at this spot. Around 35,000 vehicles pass the junction daily — commuters, holidaymakers, lorries, buses. For many people in Llucmajor and the surrounding area this wasn't an abstract statistic but a real problem: stop-and-go, risky turning manoeuvres and the constant worry that a fender bender could turn into something worse.

The amount spent is around €2.4 million. The money went into earthworks, road surfaces, guardrails, new lane markings and the necessary signage. The overriding goal was to calm the traffic situation: when you merge into a roundabout, speed is automatically reduced and conflict points when turning are significantly fewer.

For everyday life on the island this means noticeable relief. Those who drive from Son Verí Nou to Palma early in the morning know the moments when cars frantically hunt for gaps. A well-designed roundabout brings rhythm to the drive: cars roll, there is less sudden braking, ambulances and emergency vehicles can make their way through more easily. Above all, however, the likelihood of serious collisions decreases.

The measure is not an isolated case: similar interventions in the road network are planned for the neighbouring settlements of Sa Torre, Puig d'en Ros and Maioris. This shows that the island council is not just reacting in individual spots but is aiming for a coordinated improvement of the infrastructure in this area; this is reflected in Palma aims to ease congestion: roundabout expansion, FAN access and 13 small roadworks.

Of course a roundabout does not solve all problems at once. Good maintenance, clear signage and visible markings remain important. Even better would be complementary information for road users: notices about changed lanes, lighting at critical points and regular checks in the first months after commissioning. This prevents confusion when commuters have to adjust their habitual routes; see the debate around the University Access Roundabout: More Safety — But Is It Enough? for a similar example.

Those who live here now also have the chance to observe the change in everyday life: the slower speed when merging, delivery drivers who no longer have to squeeze hurriedly left or right, and families who cross the road with less worry. These are small things, but they add up. Fewer accidents mean fewer police and rescue operations — and that is noticeable on an island where every minute counts.

A practical tip for the first period: keep your eyes open, roll in slowly, signal — and don't accelerate as soon as the gap appears. The adjustment often only takes a few days, after which the roundabout becomes the new normal. For Mallorca this is more than asphalt: it is an investment in calm, safety and the ideas for how to make our roads better in the long term.

In the end there remains a slight sense of relief. Son Verí Nou now has a circle that directs traffic and minimises conflicts. For the people who travel here every day, this could be the beginning of a more relaxed commute — and for the island a step towards a less dangerous road network.