Teachers blocked parts of the AP-7 and A-2 across Catalonia on Wednesday morning during an education strike, causing major traffic disruption in several areas of the region.
In Torredembarra, around 1,000 demonstrators entered the AP-7 at about 11am and cut the motorway towards Barcelona. Traffic was diverted to the A-2, according to Trànsit, Catalonia’s traffic service. The AP-7 was also cut in both directions near Altafulla and northbound in Vila-seca.
In Salt, protesters entered the AP-7 via the hard shoulder towards France after agreeing access with the Mossos d’Esquadra, Catalonia’s police force. They later blocked both directions of travel. The A-2 in Girona was also cut in both directions from around 11am.
Further cuts were reported on the AP-7 northbound near La Roca del Vallès in both directions, in Vilabreix northbound, and in Sant Julià de Ramis southbound. In Lleida, teachers also stopped traffic on the A-2 after marching along the C-12. Trànsit advised drivers to use the A-7 and N-340 in the Tarragona area, and the A-2 and N-II in Girona. Retentions were reported on the N-340 from 11:18 and on the A-7 from 11:20.
The motorway blockades followed earlier marches and mobilisations in several places. Protesters said they wanted to extend their action ahead of a meeting scheduled for 3pm between unions and the Department of Education. In Granollers, demonstrators set up tents and hung two large tarpaulins for shade, while Mossos d’Esquadra briefly opened a passage on the motorway before protesters blocked it again.
The Granollers protest caused 9.5 kilometres of retentions northbound from Mollet del Vallès and six kilometres southbound from Cardedeu. For more Catalonia news, see our news coverage.