High Tourist Numbers Spark Road Chaos and Officer Confrontation in Andorra

High tourist numbers caused significant disruptions on Andorra's roads and in central shopping areas on Friday, marking the start of what is expected to be the peak weekend of the Christmas holiday season.

Pedestrian traffic along Avinguda Meritxell and Avinguda Carlemany in Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany became nearly impossible after ski resorts closed for the day. Roads and both public and private parking facilities in the city centres faced similar strains, with traffic officers working intensively to manage flows and prevent queues at parking entrances from worsening.

Tensions boiled over around 6pm on Carrer de la Unió, where a driver reportedly confronted a traffic officer from Escaldes-Engordany over a decision, leading to a heated altercation. Police dispatched a patrol to the scene, which extended into the private parking area of a nearby shopping centre. Officers intervened to de-escalate and clarify the incident, described as an attempted aggression against the officer, who was left shaken but unharmed.

Authorities anticipate continued challenges over the weekend, with heavy traffic on roads, busy ski slopes during midday hours, and crowded shops in the central parishes during afternoons. Adding to the strain, the Patge Reial parade is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, following the same route as the Magi cavalcade—from in front of Andorra la Vella town hall to Plaça Coprínceps in Escaldes-Engordany—though it is expected to move more swiftly.