TARRAGONA, Catalonia, is set for heavy holiday traffic as the Catalan Traffic Service, the SCT, launches its Second Easter operation. The agency expects 600,000 vehicles to leave the Barcelona metropolitan area between Friday and Monday, 25 May, with the AP-7 towards Tarragona and the Costa Daurada among the busiest routes.
The SCT says the heaviest traffic is likely between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, as drivers head to beaches and second homes along the Tarragona coast. Ramon Lamiel, director of the SCT, warned that the AP-7 will face particular pressure through the Tarragona section.
To ease congestion, the SCT will put in place additional lanes and other special measures. In total, more than 150 kilometres of traffic measures will be deployed across Catalonia. You can follow updates from the news tag on Catalan News.
On the return journey, the SCT estimates about 300,000 vehicles will head back to Barcelona on Monday, making it the largest return operation of 2026 so far. The main traffic peaks are expected around 7pm on Friday and between 12pm and 1pm on Saturday.
The Mossos d’Esquadra will also increase road surveillance across Catalonia, with 1,260 officers and 1,022 controls. Mònica Luis, commissioner of the Mossos and head of the General Mobility Commissariat, said speed, distractions and alcohol remain the main risk factors for crashes.
The SCT says its main aim for the holiday weekend is to prevent fatalities on busy routes including the AP-7, A-7, N-340 and access roads to the Costa Daurada. According to Diari de Tarragona, trucks are involved in 41.7% of serious accidents on the AP-7 in Tarragona.
