Trànsit foresees pre-pandemic mobility for this Easter

The Catalan Transit Service foresees mobility during this Holy Week similar to that registered before the coronavirus pandemic, that is, in 2019, with which it has launched a series of measures to not only avoid traffic jams on Catalan roads, but also avoid maximum traffic accidents. Estimates indicate that a total of 370,000 vehicles will leave the Barcelona metropolitan area this Thursday and Friday and some 570,000 will return to their places of origin next Sunday and Monday, according to the agency’s director, Ramón Lamiel. There is special concern in the counties of Girona, where there has been an upturn in accidents this April compared to 2019 (100% more).

To channel the increase in mobility in the first Holy Week without tolls on the main highways, the Administration has planned a series of measures, such as launching a additional lane on the AP-7 south between Vilafranca and el Papiol and on the C-32 in the section between Llavaneras and Montgat. For now, no similar action has been planned on the AP-7 heading north and, especially, in La Roca del Vallès. The circulation of heavy trucks will also be prohibited on Sunday and Monday to make circulation more fluid. In addition, the Mossos will install 1,130 alcohol and drug controls, with the participation of 1,511 troops, and there will be a helicopter and a plane every day. The circulation, regulation and traffic management measures installed in the two phases will reach 200 kilometers.

In this festive period, in which high mobility will be recorded, Trànsit stresses “the need not to let our guard down at any time while driving to avoid accidents”. Specifically, he recalls the importance of using passive safety elements; not to manipulate the mobile phone or other electronic devices; to respect the speed limits, and not to combine alcohol and driving. In addition, he insists on the need to check the vehicle before going out on the road, since with good maintenance incidents during circulation are avoided.

In the outbound operation, a significant concentration of vehicles is expected on the AP-7 Martorell – Gelida; on the AP-7 Barberà del Vallès – La Roca del Vallès – Llinars del Vallès; on the C-16 Bagà – Berga; on the C-17 Ripoll; on the C-65/C-31 Santa Cristina d’Aro; on the N-340 El Vendrell – Altafulla, and on the N-145 Andorra – La Seu d’Urgell. And on the return route (Sunday-Monday) on the A-2 Jorba – Castellolí – El Bruc – Pallejà; AP-7 Vendrell – Banyeres Penedès – Vilafranca del Penedès – Gelida – Martorell – Castellbisbal; AP-7 Hostalric – Sant Celoni – La Roca; C-16 Cercs – Berga; C-17 Parets del Vallès; C-31/C-65 Platja d’Aro – Santa Cristina d’Aro – Llagostera; C-33 Montcada i Reixac; C-35 Sant Celoni; C-55 Castellgalí, and N-145 Andorra – La Seu d’Urgell.

The data reveals that the number of fatalities in the first three months of the year has been lower than in 2019, but there has been a rebound in this month of April, where there have been five deaths, compared to the three in 2021 already two of 2019. “The trend is not good,” Lamiel warned. The message that Trànsit wants to give is: “Responsibility, control and prudence”. In Girona, the accident rate has increased by 100% compared to 2019. According to Lamiel, it generates special concern on weekend afternoons on the AP-7 and the C-63. Following the release of tolls, there has been a 30% increase in traffic on the AP-7 on public holidays.