Overview
- The Dirección General de Tráfico activated the 'Operación Especial Retorno' on Friday at 15:00 and will run through midnight on Monday to manage holiday returns.
- Officials expect about 6.88–6.9 million long trips over the four‑day period, making this the largest end‑of‑August movement of vehicles since 2005.
- A multi‑vehicle crash on the AP‑7 at El Papiol has left nine people injured, one in critical condition, forced lane and route closures and required SEM units and firefighters to perform rescues.
- Peak congestion is forecast for Saturday morning, Sunday late afternoon and Monday afternoon with the main pressure on routes to the coast such as the A‑1, A‑3, A‑7 and AP‑7 and on combined road‑air links at Barcelona‑El Prat where 4,421 flights are scheduled.
- The DGT urges drivers to use its live traffic map, road cameras, the 011 helpline and the @InformacionDGT channel on X to plan alternative routes and reduce delays for other road users and emergency services.