Almost all vehicles expected to leave the Barcelona area for the May Day long weekend have now departed, according to the Catalan Traffic Service (SCT). By 3pm on Friday, 575,651 of the anticipated 580,000 vehicles, representing 99% of the total, had left the metropolitan area since Thursday at 12pm.
Routes towards the Costa Brava in Girona province experienced some of the main traffic complications during this holiday exodus. The SCT reported queues on the C-35 and C-65 motorways between Llagostera and Cassà de la Selva, heading towards Sant Feliu de Guíxols. Additionally, the N-II saw congestion between Tordera and Vidreres.
Traffic Congestion in Ripoll
The C-17 motorway also registered congestion in Ripoll, further highlighting the widespread nature of the holiday traffic. The May Day public holiday often leads to increased travel across Catalonia, particularly to coastal areas and mountain regions.
This year's figures show a near-complete departure of planned vehicles, suggesting many residents are taking advantage of the long weekend for travel. Authorities will now focus on managing return traffic flows, which are expected to peak on Sunday and Monday.
