Andorra forecasts 58,000 vehicle entries over Puríssima weekend; dual‑lane traffic measures planned

Andorra’s Mobility Department expects about 58,000 vehicle entries over the Puríssima long weekend, from Friday 5 December to Monday 8 December, with arrivals starting as early as Thursday evening. The busiest days are forecast to be Friday and Saturday, with daily peaks above 15,000 vehicles. Of the total, roughly 42,000 are expected via the Spanish–Andorran border and 16,000 via the French–Andorran border.

Peak entry hours are predicted from Spain between 09:30 and 14:30 and from France between 08:00 and 13:00. Return peaks are forecast later in the day: 16:00–22:00 at the Spanish border and 15:00–19:00 at the French border. Authorities base projections on recent seasons and attribute the rise to ski resorts opening, favourable weather forecasts and strong hotel bookings.

To ease congestion and improve safety, the government will reactivate a dual‑lane configuration at the Spanish border, coordinated between the Andorran Police, the Spanish National Police, the Guardia Civil and the Mossos d’Esquadra. A northbound dual lane will be set up on Avinguda Francesc Cairat in Sant Julià de Lòria — mainly on Saturdays and other high‑entry days — while a southbound dual lane will be enabled between the Comella and La Margineda roundabouts on weekday afternoons, Sundays and other peak periods. The Comella device includes a reversible lane and variable signage; the Sant Julià deployment will be installed by the communal circulation service to allow faster, more flexible activation beyond Saturday mornings.

The traffic measures form part of a wider winter mobility plan running from December through March, with special operations planned for Christmas and Easter. For the Christmas period (19 December–6 January) Mobility forecasts roughly 251,600 vehicle entries — about 165,800 via the Spanish border at Riu Runer and 73,000 via the French border at Baladrà — with the busiest days around 26–28 December when daily peaks could exceed 16,000 vehicles. An initial estimate for Easter points to around 66,000 entries, with the main pressure expected in early April.

Authorities say the devices will improve traffic flow, provide real‑time information on incidents and snowfall, and coordinate available forces to guarantee road safety for residents and visitors. They warn that buses share the same routes as private vehicles and may be delayed during heavy traffic, and measures are being prepared to add service reinforcements when needed.

Drivers are reminded that winter equipment is mandatory until 15 May. Mobility urges people to plan journeys, follow variable signage and real‑time updates, use public transport where possible, and favour walking for short trips within the central valley. Catalonia’s traffic service has also warned of possible hold‑ups on the N‑145 and N‑260 approaching Andorra; mobile information panels will be deployed in La Seu d’Urgell to guide return routes.