About 580,000 vehicles are expected to leave the Barcelona metropolitan area between midday on Wednesday 23 September and 15:00 on Thursday 24 September 2026, according to the Servei Català de Trànsit (SCT), Catalonia’s traffic authority.

Drivers using the AP-7, A-2, C-58 and C-33 should expect the heaviest congestion during the outward journey on Wednesday and Thursday. The SCT expects a further 270,000 vehicles to return between midday and midnight on Sunday 27 September.

The special traffic operation, run by the SCT with the Mossos d’Esquadra, Catalonia’s regional police, started at midday on Wednesday and will remain in place until midnight on Sunday. It is the first major autumn holiday travel period, with trips expected towards inland and mountain areas as well as the coast.

Sunday contraflow lanes and C-58 access

On Sunday, authorities will introduce temporary contraflow lanes to increase capacity on key return routes:

  • AP-7 between Llinars and Montornès del Vallès.
  • AP-7 between Vilafranca del Penedès and Molins de Rei.
  • C-32/B-20 between Sant Andreu de Llavaneres and Montgat.
  • The C-58 bus and high-occupancy vehicle lane will be opened to all traffic.

The maximum speed on AP-7 sections where additional lanes are in operation will be 100km/h.

Nearly 2,000 traffic officers deployed

The Mossos will carry out 1,291 checks involving 1,993 traffic officers. These include 329 alcohol and drug checks, 228 checks on seatbelts and other protective equipment, 205 motorcycle checks, 231 distraction checks, 194 speed checks and 104 checks on transport vehicles.

“Special operations account for a significant share of road casualties, with the likelihood of a crash causing serious or fatal injuries approaching 26%.”Ramon Lamiel, director of the Servei Català de Trànsit

Francesc Parra, head of the Mossos d’Esquadra road-investigation division, said officers will focus closely on distraction and alcohol checks, with particular attention to motorcyclists. Drivers can check traffic conditions and follow officers’ directions while the operation is in force.

Reported by Betevé.