The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) launches this Friday at 3:00 p.m. a new special operation on the occasion of the bridge on August 15 that will last until midnight on Tuesday the 15th. In these five days, Traffic foresees more than 8.5 million journeys, both long and short, on all highways in the country.
During this long weekend, in addition to the outbound and return trips due to the change of fortnight, there will be those that take place in coastal towns and beaches or areas of second residence because it is a few days of leisure and rest at the end of week within the typically holiday month, which is August.
The DGT recommends that drivers spread out the departure times to avoid coincidence with the moments of greatest congestion. To do this, it has identified when and on which roads a significant increase in traffic is expected. Next, we detail their forecasts.
On Friday afternoon, mainly between 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., there will be significant movements of vehicles that will cause high intensity and traffic problems at the exits of large cities. Likewise, Traffic also provides for dense traffic on the main access roads to the tourist areas of the coast, second homes and populations at parties.
According to the forecasts of the organization headed by Pere Navarro, on Saturday morning, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the intense traffic leaving urban centers will continue, as well as in destination areas late in the morning. It is also estimated that there may be traffic problems in short-distance trips to access beaches and due to festivities in numerous towns throughout Spain.
On Sunday morning the accesses to the coast and the roads that connect coastal towns with access to beaches will be conflictive. In the afternoon, especially between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., the return of those who have enjoyed this summer weekend will begin. Given the fact that it is a long weekend, the DGT considers that it will be the Sunday with the least traffic intensity.
It will be the quietest day of this special operation. The usual movements of entry and exit to large urban centers are expected as it is a working day. In the morning, the access roads to the beaches will also be conflictive and, in the afternoon, there will be movements out of the large urban centers because it is the next holiday and also because of the change in the fortnight of vacations.
Finally, on Tuesday the 15th in the morning there may be traffic problems at the accesses to the coast and on the roads that link coastal towns with access to the beaches. In the afternoon, from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., it is expected to be the most conflictive strip on the large road axes that channel all the movement back from the tourist areas of the coast, rest areas, and second homes to the accesses of large urban centers.
In order to favor circulation in the most conflictive areas, reversible and additional lanes with cones will be installed in the hours of greatest traffic flow and alternative itineraries will be established. Works on the roads will also be stopped, the holding of sports events and other events that involve the occupation of the road will be limited. Merchandise trucks will have restricted circulation in certain sections, dates and times.
Traffic urges drivers to take extreme road safety measures and, especially, not to drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The agents of the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard and the local Police will intensify the preventive measures of speed control, alcohol and drugs both on roads and in urban centers.
Regarding material resources, the DGT has 780 fixed speed control cameras, of which 92 are section, 545 mobile radars, 245 cameras and 15 camouflaged vans to control the use of mobile phones and seat belts. Likewise, Traffic also has helicopters and drones for surveillance from the air and unmarked vehicles and motorcycles that will circulate on all types of roads in order to verify the correct behavior of drivers while driving.
