Andorra expects 58,000 vehicle entries over Puríssima long weekend

Andorra’s Mobility Department expects about 58,000 vehicle entries over the Puríssima long weekend, with arrivals beginning as early as Thursday evening and the busiest periods on Friday and Saturday when hourly peaks could exceed 15,000 vehicles. Mobility attributes the higher flows to early ski‑area openings, favourable weather and stronger hotel bookings than last year; Mobility chief Boneta said the increase appears to be a sustained rise rather than a one‑off surge.

The government has activated its special winter mobility plan and set up a joint operational device that includes the Andorran police, the seven communes, the Guardia Civil and the Mossos d’Esquadra. Measures in place include reactivating dual‑lane configurations at key border approaches, using reversible lanes and variable signage, and deploying communal circulation teams to allow quick interventions beyond routine peak periods. Authorities stress the priority is to keep traffic moving and ensure safety rather than to punish drivers.

On the approaches from Catalonia, the Catalan traffic service warned of likely hold‑ups on the N‑145 and N‑260. Two incidents on the N‑145 caused long queues of nine to ten kilometres from La Seu d’Urgell to the Spanish‑Andorran border, and traffic was also dense on the C‑14 between Oliana and Organyà towards La Seu d’Urgell. An accident in the C‑14 tunnel at Peramola around midday forced signposted diversions; the incident was cleared at about 13:45 and traffic returned to normal.

Traffic within Andorra was slow in several zones. Congestion was reported on the CG1 at Sant Julià de Lòria heading north; on the CG2 at the northern bypass of Encamp and at the entrance to Canillo in both directions — with uphill queues almost from Meritxell; and on the CG3 at the entrance to La Massana heading north. The central commercial axis, Meritxell‑Carlemany, concentrated large numbers of visitors throughout the day.

Catalan authorities estimate around 460,000 vehicles will leave the Barcelona area between Friday and Saturday and about 250,000 will return on Monday. Mobile information panels will be deployed in La Seu d’Urgell to advise drivers on the best return routes through the Alt Urgell corridor or via the C‑16/C‑17 corridors.

Ski resorts reported substantial openings for the weekend: Grandvalira offered some 91 kilometres of skiable terrain, Ordino Arcalís had 17 pistes open, and Pal Arinsal opened 21 of its 47 runs — factors that contributed to the increased visitor flow.

Mobility and traffic services say they will provide real‑time updates on incidents and on conditions such as snowfall, and will coordinate available forces and public‑transport reinforcements where necessary. They warned that buses share the same access roads as private vehicles and may be delayed during periods of heavy traffic.

Drivers are reminded that winter equipment is mandatory in Andorra from 1 November until 15 May. Authorities urge motorists to plan journeys, follow variable signage and live updates, favour public transport where possible, and walk for short trips within the central valley. The current winter device forms part of a broader seasonal programme that includes specific operations for the Christmas and Easter periods.