Over 400,000 vehicles leave Barcelona for long weekend

A total of 403,000 vehicles have left Barcelona's metropolitan area between Friday 3 pm and midday on Saturday, ahead of a long weekend, according to the Catalan Traffic Service (SCT).

The service had estimated that around 490,000 vehicles would leave the area due to the Pentecost long weekend. This represents 82.3% of the estimated vehicles.

The major highway in Catalonia, going from north (France) to the south (Valencia), is the one with the highest number of traffic jams. On saturday morning, authorities registered around 12 kilometers between Mollet del Vallès and la Roca del Vallès, heading north, and 9.5 kilometers between Castellbisbal and Castellví de Rosanes, heading south.

There were also traffic jams of over 7 kilometers at the C-32 highway between Vilassar de Dalt and Argentona, and 5 kilometers at the C-35 in Llagostera.

The SCT, in collaboration with the traffic division of the Mossos d’Esquadra (Catalan police), has implemented a special operation from 3:00pm on Friday until 10:00pm on Monday, June 9, which is a holiday in the Catalan capital and nearly 200 municipalities, mainly in the Barcelona area.

It is expected that around 300,000 vehicles will return on Monday, especially between 5:30pm and 9:30pm.

Traffic authorities do not anticipate major traffic jams on Sunday.

La Volta

In addition, roads will be affected by La Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina – Catalonia's leading women's cycling race – taking place from June 6 to 9.

The first stage will be held Friday between El Perelló and Reus, the second on Saturday between Bagà and La Molina/Coll de Pal, and the final stage on Sunday between Castelldefels and Barcelona.