Formula 1 in Montmeló and coastal outings: alert for a weekend of heavy traffic on the roads

BarcelonaA call for extreme caution on the roads ahead of a weekend of intense traffic. The Catalan Traffic Service (SCT) is urging drivers to take special care behind the wheel due to the coincidence of the Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with the usual number of Saturday and Sunday commutes at this time of year, a result of the good weather and the approaching summer.

With an expected turnout of 100,000 people for the Montmeló motor race alone, it is estimated that 490,000 vehicles will leave the Barcelona metropolitan area and that around 300,000 will return in a concentrated manner on Sunday. The STC (Catalan Police) and the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan Police) will deploy special measures with additional lanes to increase road capacity, and there will be mobility restrictions for heavy goods vehicles.

First of all, Trànsit recommends that drivers traveling to or from the north of the country do so via Maresme, using the C-32 north. Users are also asked to avoid driving on the AP-7 during peak hours and take advantage of off-peak hours: while the Grand Prix is in progress or after it has already ended.

Operation Return

In preparation for the return of vehicles, an additional lane will be installed on the northern section of the AP-7 between Llinars and Montornès del Vallès in the southbound direction on Sunday afternoon. However, for safety reasons, its opening will be delayed until 7:00 p.m. due to the traffic on the exit and drainage of the circuit after the Grand Prix.

An additional lane will also be installed on the southern section of the motorway between Vilafranca and El Papiol in the northbound direction. In addition, the installation of another additional lane is planned on the C-32 Nord between Llavaneres and Montgat in the southbound direction, which will encourage the use of this motorway as an alternative to the AP-7 during the return, as recommended by Trànsit.

Measures in Santa Cristina de Aro

On Sunday, the flags will also be deployed for the first time. Measures to return to the C-65/C-31 in Santa Cristina de Aro Traffic agreed with the City Council to avoid the congestion experienced when returning cars to the Barcelona area on Sunday afternoons. In this regard, access to the C-65 will be closed from the C-250z at Santa Cristina de Aro, and vehicles will be forced to make a U-turn to rejoin the C-31 motorway and subsequently the C-65.

The goal is to discourage users from taking a shortcut through the municipality of Santa Cristina d'Aro and avoid traffic problems within the town. The SCT (Spanish Transport Ministry) will report this closure on the traffic incidents website so that Google Maps will also indicate the restriction to navigators.