This figure represents a substantial portion of the 560,000 vehicles expected to depart the area during this festive period. Authorities have described this mobilization as the most significant of the year in terms of traffic volume.
“"It is the most important departure operation of the entire year."
The peak of traffic congestion occurred on Friday at 12:30 PM, due to an accident on the AP-7 near Olèrdola and Subirats, in Alt Penedès. This incident caused queues of up to 14 kilometers southbound, with two lanes of the motorway being closed. Congestion was also reported on other sections of the AP-7, including Montmeló, Castellbisbal, Castellví de Rosanes, and Gelida. Despite this, the total of 81 kilometers of accumulated queues was 18% lower than the previous year.
Looking ahead to the return journey, the Catalan Traffic Service anticipates that around 590,000 vehicles will return to the metropolitan area between Sunday and Monday. Easter Monday is expected to be the busiest day, with an estimated 270,000 vehicles heading back to Barcelona.
To manage this vehicle flow, nearly 100 kilometers of additional lanes have been set up on the AP-7: 43 kilometers towards Tarragona and 53 kilometers towards Girona. Furthermore, a special operation involving 1,669 Mossos d'Esquadra officers is reinforcing road surveillance, with 1,038 speed controls and 10 mobile radars on the AP-7, complemented by aerial surveillance from two helicopters.
