What alternative routes can we take? The plan to not saturate the AP-7 on the day of the eclipse

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 on the AP-7. To cope with the large volume of planned travel from all over Catalonia to 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 which consists mainly of avoiding the AP-7 as much as possible and going with plenty of time.

One of the key points of the mobility plan launched by the Catalan Traffic Service to avoid saturation on the highway will be the prohibition of truck traffic in the southbound direction between 5 PM and midnight. Regarding the northbound direction, trucks will be allowed 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. If you wish 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 base tourist interest, the fact that the highway only has two lanes per direction of circulation 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 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 control 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 officers of the Catalan police 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 noted 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 traffic 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 figures are expected to continue to rise in the coming hours. 

Lamiel, however, pointed out that the displacements seem to be on a local scale and “closer”. “60% of these people are from the region, 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 Commissariat of Mobility, recalled that, despite the regulation measures, it is key to “plan routes in advance” and have the car prepared for possible breakdowns “so as not to obstruct 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 for emergency vehicles” that will be mobilized in case of incidents such as fires, traffic, or medical assistance.