Heavy Tourist Traffic Strains Andorra's Roads Amid Holiday Crowds

Heavy tourist influx continued to strain Andorra's road network and shopping districts through the weekend, with significant traffic queues reported at borders and key access points on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday morning saw intermittent delays stretching from La Seu d'Urgell roundabout to the Spanish-Andorran border on the N-145, through the Valls de Valira and into Sant Julià de Lòria. An accident on the N-260 near Adrall added northbound queues reaching back to the Catalan capital. Outbound traffic faced lighter backups to the Runer border roundabout at Olivera.

By Sunday, congestion shifted: the Servei de Mobilitat reported extensive queues on the CG-2 into Canillo and Encamp in the southbound direction, plus delays on the CG-4 at La Massana entrance and the CG-1 outbound at the southern Spanish border. Delays concentrated near ski access areas midday and the southern frontier by evening.

This followed Friday's peak disruptions in Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany, when closed ski slopes flooded Avinguda Meritxell and Avinguda Carlemany with pedestrians, overwhelming central roads and parking. Around 6pm on Carrer de la Unió, a driver challenged an Escaldes-Engordany traffic officer's decision, escalating into an altercation that drew a police patrol into a nearby shopping centre's private lot. Officers de-escalated the attempted aggression, leaving the officer shaken but uninjured.

The Patge Reial parade proceeded Sunday afternoon along its route from Andorra la Vella town hall to Plaça Coprínceps in Escaldes-Engordany, moving more quickly than the Magi cavalcade despite the crowds.

Monday afternoon brought fresh outbound queues at the Runer crossing, reaching Epizen as thousands of visitors departed after the holiday period. Forecasts of poor weather, dropping temperatures and unusual low-elevation snow could accelerate exits. Authorities urged caution amid the sustained high volumes.