What alternative routes can we take? The plan to avoid saturating the AP-7 on the day of the eclipse

Only a few hours remain until August 12: the day of the solar eclipse. The great scientific and public interest generated by the phenomenon will also have a significant impact on the roads, especially the AP-7. To cope with the large volume of travel expected from all over Catalonia towards the 23 designated observation points in the regions of Camp de Tarragona, Terres de l’Ebre, and Ponent, where the total eclipse can be seen, the Government has activated a special mobility plan that consists mainly of avoiding the AP-7 as much as possible and allowing plenty of time.

One of the key points of the mobility device launched by the Servei Català de Trànsit to avoid saturation on the highway will be the prohibition of truck circulation in the southbound direction between 5 p.m. and midnight. Regarding the northbound direction, trucks will be able to circulate, but with restrictions: only in the right lane and with a speed limit of 80 km/h.

Beyond what happens on the AP-7, this Tuesday, Ramon Lamiel, director of the Servei Català de Trànsit, wanted to insist on the recommendation to opt for alternative routes. In this way, for those who have chosen to watch the eclipse from Ponent, it is recommended to use the C-25 and the A-2. In case of wishing to travel to Lleida, les Borges Blanques, Valls, or Prades, the use of the AP-2 is recommended. On the other hand, to access the Camp de Tarragona area, traffic proposes the use of the A-7 and the N-340.

The area where more crowds are expected, however, is in Terres de l’Ebre, because in addition to being a point of high basic tourist interest, the fact that the highway only has two lanes per direction of travel is added. In this section, the road's capacity per hour is reduced by 43%. To travel to Baix Camp, Ribera d'Ebre and Terra Alta, the T-11 and the N-420 are proposed as alternative routes.

According to Lamiel, both before and after the eclipse, secondary roads will have a "valve" function that will open and close, to "divert traffic from the AP-7 and direct it to the N-340 and to the roads leading to the observation points". The strategy will include a helicopter that will monitor the congestion in the southern strip of Catalonia from the sky to give instructions to traffic agents.

On Wednesday, both before and after the eclipse – the return operation could be one of the most critical moments of the operation – all these options to avoid the AP-7 will be indicated by 180 traffic agents from the Mossos d'Esquadra. This group is part of the 700 Catalan police officers who will be deployed throughout the country, especially for the day of the eclipse, and who will be coordinated from the 112 center in Reus.

Postpone the return

Although, for the moment, there have been no major traffic disruptions, Lamiel explained that this Monday a "symptom of an exit" was noticed and a road situation typical of a Saturday morning, with congestion on the AP-7 and A-2. The counter installed in Martorell indicates that, on Monday, a 2% increase in circulation was observed compared to the previous week. Despite this, Lamiel explained that some municipalities with observation points are already above the expected occupancy: in some areas of Camp de Tarragona, where there was a forecast of 2,500 people, 3,050 have already been registered at the moment and the figures are expected to continue to rise in the coming hours. 

Lamiel, however, pointed out that the displacements seem to be of a local scale and "closer". "60% of these people are from the county, they are not from outside," he explained. If the pattern continues, the Director of Transit explains that "there will be mobility close to the area, not long-distance travel". 

Despite this, the Servei Català de Trànsit has called for the exit operation to be "staggered" and recommends that people "postpone their return" and enjoy the activities programmed for after the event at the different observation points.

Mònica Luis, head of the General Directorate of Mobility, recalled that, despite the regulation measures, it is key to "plan routes in advance" and to have the car prepared for possible breakdowns "to avoid obstructing traffic". Luis also recalled that vehicles that park or stop on the hard shoulder will be fined, as they can obstruct passage and not "allow passage to emergency vehicles" that will be mobilized in case of incidents such as fires, traffic, or health assistance.

Barcelona reinforces surveillance

Although Barcelona will not be one of the cities with the most visibility of the eclipse, the Guardia Urbana will reinforce surveillance this Wednesday at viewpoints, beaches, Collserola and other open spaces given the forecast of gatherings. The City Council will activate a special device between 2:00 PM and 12:00 AM.

The operation will involve all operational units of the corps and also plans to reinforce traffic regulation and coordination with emergency services. In Barcelona, the Moon will obscure approximately 99.7% of the solar disk; the city remains outside the totality band.