DGT launches special operation to manage traffic during long holiday weekend

Thursday 2nd December 2021 – Compiled by MIKE SMITH

More than eight million trips are expected over the forthcoming long weekend – the December “puente” – and the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) is launching a special operation to ensure safety during this period, from 3.00pm on Friday 3rd December until midnight on Wednesday 8th December.

During this period, there will be 780 fixed radar checks, 92 average speed checks sections and 545 mobile radar checks in operation, in addition to the deployment of 13 helicopters and 39 drones as well as surveillance cameras checking for issues such as the wearing of seat belts, etc.

In the Comunidad Valenciana, the AP-7, A-3 and A-7 motorways are expected to experience particularly heavy traffic during this period as well as the access roads to the main tourist areas such as Xàbia.

The DGT has issued the following information:

The national holidays of the Día de la Constitution (Monday 6th December) and La Inmaculada (Wednesday 8th December 8) will combine with the weekend to provide a long period of rest and leisure from Friday 3rd December to Wednesday 8th December. During this long weekend, there will be a significant movement of vehicles throughout the Spanish road network on both short and long-distance journeys, especially on Friday and Wednesday.

In response, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) will be launching a campaign of traffic regulation, management and surveillance entitled Operación Especial “Constitución – Inmaculada 2021”.

Friday 3rd December 2021

In the early afternoon, vehicle movements will occur due to the beginning of the festive period, which will cause traffic build up that may cause problems leaving large urban centres and also in the main communication routes to the tourist areas, and to second residences. This traffic is expected to continue to build up as the afternoon progresses so that the travellers will arrive at their destination late in the evening. For this reason, traffic management and regulation measures will be installed during the afternoon and evening to facilitate the departure from large urban centres. The heaviest traffic should be expected between 3.00pm and 11.00pm.

Saturday 4th December 2021

From the early hours of the morning, heavy traffic is expected to continue leaving large urban centers and on communication routes that link tourist areas and second homes so that travellers will arrive at their destinations by late morning. The access roads to mountain areas with snow for the practice of winter sports will be especially problematic. During the morning, traffic management and regulation measures will be installed to improve the flow of traffic from large urban centres. The heaviest traffic should be expected between 8.00am and 3.00pm.

Sunday 5th December 2021

In the morning, there could be heavy traffic leaving large urban centres for short journeys to leisure and recreations areas as well as nearby commercial centres with the return journeys expected on the same day during the evening and night. The access roads to mountain areas with snow for the practice of winter sports will be especially problematic.

Monday 6th December 2021

During the morning of this national holiday, there could be heavy traffic leaving large urban centres for short journeys to nearby leisure and recreations areas. During the afternoon, the DGT special operation will monitor the return to the large urban centres due to the following day being a working day within the long “puente” weekend. However, it is expected the traffic won’t be as heavy as it is likely to be on Wednesday 8th December, with the heaviest traffic expected between 6.00pm and 11.00pm.

Tuesday 7th December 2021

Throughout the day there will be the usual entry / exit movements to large urban centres because it is a working day. During the afternoon, traffic leaving these large urban centres once again since the next day is a national holiday.

Wednesday 8th December 2021

During the early afternoon, the DGT operation will continue to monitor the heavy traffic returning to the large urban centres as well as the access roads to mountainous areas for the practice of winter sports. Traffic managements and regulation measures will be installed to ensure the smooth flow of traffic back into the large urban centres. The heaviest traffic is to be expected between 3.00pm and midnight.