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Listen "A Mixed Week of Traffic Forecast Towards the Busy Holiday Weekend"
Episode Synopsis
The week of October 6th, 2025, is expected to see typical weekday traffic patterns across Spain’s national road network, but with a significant increase in congestion and delays starting mid-week due to a major regional holiday in Valencia and the build-up to the national holiday on Sunday.
The main points of concern for drivers will be the Day of the Valencian Community holiday on Thursday, which will see heavy movement of traffic out of and back into the Valencian region, and the Fiestas del Pilar in Zaragoza, which is currently running and will cause local disruption, particularly during the final weekend.
Drivers heading into Catalonia should also be aware of the GT World Challenge events near Barcelona at the end of the week.
Monday, 6th October
General Traffic: Normal weekday volumes are expected. The busiest periods will be the morning and evening commutes around major metropolitan areas such as Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville.
Local Events/Fiestas: The Fiestas del Pilar continue in Zaragoza, which will cause local road closures and diversions, especially in the city centre. Drivers should anticipate delays on access roads into Zaragoza.
Tuesday, 7th October
General Traffic: Traffic flows will remain consistent with a standard working week. The DGT advises drivers to plan for rush hour congestion on motorways leading into all major cities.
Local Events/Fiestas: Continued local road disruptions and high pedestrian volumes are expected in Zaragoza due to the ongoing Fiestas del Pilar.
Wednesday, 8th October
General Traffic: Traffic is expected to increase significantly, particularly in the Valencian Community, as many people will begin a long weekend ahead of the regional holiday on Thursday. Anticipate heavy congestion from mid-afternoon on exit routes from major cities, especially on the A-7 (Mediterranean Motorway) and AP-7 in the direction of coastal areas and second residences in the Valencian and Murcia regions.
Local Holidays/Fiestas: Build-up to the Day of the Valencian Community public holiday in Valencia on Thursday. Expect localised disruption for parade and event preparations in the city of Valencia.
Thursday, 9th October
Local Holiday/Traffic Impact:Day of the Valencian Community is a regional public holiday.
Valencian Region: Significant increase in short-distance leisure travel, leading to heavy traffic on coastal roads and routes to leisure spots. The busiest times are expected in the morning and early afternoon for departures, and late afternoon/evening for shorter return journeys. Local parades and events in the city of Valencia will result in road closures and diversions in the central areas.
Sporting Events: Preparations for the GT World Challenge Europe and GT4 European Series at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya near Montmeló, Barcelona, may begin to impact local road freight and logistical traffic near the circuit.
Friday, 10th October
General Traffic: This is anticipated to be the heaviest traffic day of the week nationally as the working week ends and a major portion of the country begins their weekend. Congestion will be widespread, peaking between 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM.
Major Routes: Expect long delays on the A-1 (Madrid to Burgos/Basque Country), A-3 (Madrid to Valencia), A-4 (Madrid to Andalusia), and A-6 (Madrid to Galicia) as city dwellers depart.
Valencian Region: There will be a mix of outward-bound weekend traffic and return traffic from the Valencian holiday, keeping traffic levels high on the A-7 and coastal routes.
Sporting Events: The GT World Challenge Europe and GT4 European Series officially begin practice and qualifying sessions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya near Montmeló, Barcelona. Local police (Mossos d’Esquadra) advise of increased traffic on the C-17 and AP-7 motorways near the circuit.
Local Events/Fiestas: The Fiestas del Pilar in Zaragoza enter their busiest final weekend period, guaranteeing central road closures and diversions.
The Weekend
The weekend is dominated by two major factors: the ongoing Fiestas del Pilar in Zaragoza and the Spanish National Day (Hispanic Day) on Sunday.
Saturday, 11th October: High traffic volumes are forecast, with particular congestion around major shopping centres, leisure areas, and beaches in the morning and early afternoon. Zaragoza will see maximum local traffic disruption due to the Fiestas. The GT World Challenge Europe continues near Barcelona, with a major influx of spectators to the Montmeló circuit, heavily impacting the AP-7 motorway and local roads.
Sunday, 12th October:Hispanic Day (Fiesta Nacional de España) is a national public holiday.
National Traffic: Despite being a holiday, a major traffic operation will commence as people return from long-weekend trips and the Valencian holiday. Peak congestion is expected between 4:00 PM and 10:00 PM, affecting routes back into all major urban centres.
Madrid: Expect significant road closures and diversions in central Madrid for the main military parade and associated ceremonies. Drivers must avoid the central Castellana axis and surrounding streets.
Sporting Events: The main races for the GT World Challenge Europe take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Heavy spectator traffic departing the area will lead to significant delays on the AP-7 motorway near Barcelona in the late afternoon and evening.
Next Week
Monday, 13th October is designated as a holiday in lieu of the National Day in several regions across Spain. This will turn the expected Sunday return traffic into a two-day operation. Expect extremely heavy traffic and congestion on major routes into large cities throughout Monday, particularly those routes serving regions where the holiday is observed. Normal weekday traffic patterns across the entire national network are not expected to fully resume until Tuesday, 14th October.The post A Mixed Week of Traffic Forecast Towards the Busy Holiday Weekend first appeared on N332 Travel Updates.
The main points of concern for drivers will be the Day of the Valencian Community holiday on Thursday, which will see heavy movement of traffic out of and back into the Valencian region, and the Fiestas del Pilar in Zaragoza, which is currently running and will cause local disruption, particularly during the final weekend.
Drivers heading into Catalonia should also be aware of the GT World Challenge events near Barcelona at the end of the week.
Monday, 6th October
General Traffic: Normal weekday volumes are expected. The busiest periods will be the morning and evening commutes around major metropolitan areas such as Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville.
Local Events/Fiestas: The Fiestas del Pilar continue in Zaragoza, which will cause local road closures and diversions, especially in the city centre. Drivers should anticipate delays on access roads into Zaragoza.
Tuesday, 7th October
General Traffic: Traffic flows will remain consistent with a standard working week. The DGT advises drivers to plan for rush hour congestion on motorways leading into all major cities.
Local Events/Fiestas: Continued local road disruptions and high pedestrian volumes are expected in Zaragoza due to the ongoing Fiestas del Pilar.
Wednesday, 8th October
General Traffic: Traffic is expected to increase significantly, particularly in the Valencian Community, as many people will begin a long weekend ahead of the regional holiday on Thursday. Anticipate heavy congestion from mid-afternoon on exit routes from major cities, especially on the A-7 (Mediterranean Motorway) and AP-7 in the direction of coastal areas and second residences in the Valencian and Murcia regions.
Local Holidays/Fiestas: Build-up to the Day of the Valencian Community public holiday in Valencia on Thursday. Expect localised disruption for parade and event preparations in the city of Valencia.
Thursday, 9th October
Local Holiday/Traffic Impact:Day of the Valencian Community is a regional public holiday.
Valencian Region: Significant increase in short-distance leisure travel, leading to heavy traffic on coastal roads and routes to leisure spots. The busiest times are expected in the morning and early afternoon for departures, and late afternoon/evening for shorter return journeys. Local parades and events in the city of Valencia will result in road closures and diversions in the central areas.
Sporting Events: Preparations for the GT World Challenge Europe and GT4 European Series at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya near Montmeló, Barcelona, may begin to impact local road freight and logistical traffic near the circuit.
Friday, 10th October
General Traffic: This is anticipated to be the heaviest traffic day of the week nationally as the working week ends and a major portion of the country begins their weekend. Congestion will be widespread, peaking between 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM.
Major Routes: Expect long delays on the A-1 (Madrid to Burgos/Basque Country), A-3 (Madrid to Valencia), A-4 (Madrid to Andalusia), and A-6 (Madrid to Galicia) as city dwellers depart.
Valencian Region: There will be a mix of outward-bound weekend traffic and return traffic from the Valencian holiday, keeping traffic levels high on the A-7 and coastal routes.
Sporting Events: The GT World Challenge Europe and GT4 European Series officially begin practice and qualifying sessions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya near Montmeló, Barcelona. Local police (Mossos d’Esquadra) advise of increased traffic on the C-17 and AP-7 motorways near the circuit.
Local Events/Fiestas: The Fiestas del Pilar in Zaragoza enter their busiest final weekend period, guaranteeing central road closures and diversions.
The Weekend
The weekend is dominated by two major factors: the ongoing Fiestas del Pilar in Zaragoza and the Spanish National Day (Hispanic Day) on Sunday.
Saturday, 11th October: High traffic volumes are forecast, with particular congestion around major shopping centres, leisure areas, and beaches in the morning and early afternoon. Zaragoza will see maximum local traffic disruption due to the Fiestas. The GT World Challenge Europe continues near Barcelona, with a major influx of spectators to the Montmeló circuit, heavily impacting the AP-7 motorway and local roads.
Sunday, 12th October:Hispanic Day (Fiesta Nacional de España) is a national public holiday.
National Traffic: Despite being a holiday, a major traffic operation will commence as people return from long-weekend trips and the Valencian holiday. Peak congestion is expected between 4:00 PM and 10:00 PM, affecting routes back into all major urban centres.
Madrid: Expect significant road closures and diversions in central Madrid for the main military parade and associated ceremonies. Drivers must avoid the central Castellana axis and surrounding streets.
Sporting Events: The main races for the GT World Challenge Europe take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Heavy spectator traffic departing the area will lead to significant delays on the AP-7 motorway near Barcelona in the late afternoon and evening.
Next Week
Monday, 13th October is designated as a holiday in lieu of the National Day in several regions across Spain. This will turn the expected Sunday return traffic into a two-day operation. Expect extremely heavy traffic and congestion on major routes into large cities throughout Monday, particularly those routes serving regions where the holiday is observed. Normal weekday traffic patterns across the entire national network are not expected to fully resume until Tuesday, 14th October.The post A Mixed Week of Traffic Forecast Towards the Busy Holiday Weekend first appeared on N332 Travel Updates.
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