More than 532,000 vehicles had departed Barcelona and its metropolitan area between Thursday 12pm and Friday 1.30pm, marking the second day of the May Day holiday exodus. This figure represents 92% of the 580,000 vehicles expected to leave the region by Friday 3pm, according to the Servei Català de Trànsit (SCT).
Significant traffic jams were reported on Friday morning, particularly along various sections of the AP-7 motorway. Drivers faced over 10 kilometres of congestion between Castellví de Rosanes and Castellbisbal, near Barcelona, and more than 7 kilometres between Castellet i la Gornal and Olèrdola, also in Barcelona province.
Further north, towards Girona, complications arose between Mollet del Vallès and la Roca del Vallès, and again between Llinars del Vallès and Sant Celoni. Other affected routes included the C-55 in Castellgalí and the C-16 between Berga and Cercs. In Girona province, the C-17 experienced delays in Ripoll, while coastal access roads like the C-35 and C-65 between Llagostera and Cassà de la Selva, and the N-II between Tordera and Vidreres, also saw heavy traffic. The C-32 between Castelldefels and Sitges, south of Barcelona, was also congested.
Increased Mobility, Fewer Jams
Mobility on Friday was 4% higher than during the same May Day holiday period in 2025, according to Trànsit. Despite the increased volume, overall congestion was 5% lower than the previous year. The peak intensity for vehicle departures occurred around midday on Friday, with 32,000 vehicles per hour, leading to a maximum of 92 kilometres of traffic jams across the network, 21 kilometres fewer than last year.
Thursday's mobility was 5.5% higher than in 2025, with a 22% reduction in global congestion. The AP-7 remained the most affected road on both days.
Police Deployment for Holiday Traffic
For this holiday period, which includes the return operation on Sunday, the Mossos d'Esquadra police force will deploy 1,365 officers. They will conduct 1,029 controls focusing on alcohol and drug use, speed, and other traffic regulations. Additionally, over 100 kilometres of special traffic measures, including circulation management and regulation, will be put in place to help manage the flow of vehicles.
