Solar eclipse 2026: traffic restrictions update

The Catalan Traffic Service has published a specific document outlining the restrictions and limitations planned for August 12, 2026. The measures will be in effect between 2:00 PM and midnight and will affect several sections of the AP-7 and N-340 highways.

Southbound traffic will be restricted on the AP-7 between kilometer markers 171 and 344. This section begins approximately near Martorell and extends to the southern border of Catalonia, so it may significantly affect transport along the Mediterranean corridor towards Tarragona, Castellón, or Valencia.

A southbound restriction will also be in place on the N-340, between kilometer markers 1210 and 1059. This measure affects a large stretch of one of the main roads parallel to the AP-7.

The hours of operation will be the same for both.

Cases:

• Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
• From 2:00 PM to midnight.
• AP-7, from km 171 to km 344, southbound.
• N-340, from km 1210 to km 1059, southbound.

In addition to these restrictions, Catalonia will apply limitations northbound on the AP-7. Between km 344 and km 217, affected vehicles must travel in the right lane, overtaking is prohibited, and the maximum speed limit is 80 kilometers per hour.

This limitation will also be in effect between 2:00 PM and midnight.

Therefore, although northbound traffic will not be completely prohibited on that section, there will be a reduction in the road's capacity and travel times are likely to increase. The document published by the Catalan Traffic Service is part of the information intended for transport professionals. Before starting their journey, companies and drivers should check the specific category of their vehicle and whether any of the exceptions provided for in Catalan traffic restriction regulations apply. The AP-7 is one of the main routes used by national and international transport. The measures may affect vehicles crossing Catalonia as well as those originating from or destined for Barcelona, ​​Tarragona, the Port of Barcelona, ​​the Port of Tarragona, or various industrial areas near the corridor. It should also be noted that the N-340 cannot be freely used as an alternative southbound route during the same period, as it will also be affected by the announced restrictions.

Navarra has also approved complementary traffic regulation measures on the occasion of the solar eclipse. The resolution was published in the Official State Gazette on July 23, 2026. The prohibition affects vehicles or vehicle combinations transporting goods with a maximum authorized mass or maximum combined mass exceeding 7,500 kilograms. These vehicles may not circulate on the public roads of the Chartered Community of Navarre during the following hours: Wednesday, August 12, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. On all roads in Navarre, except for the expressly exempted sections. The resolution maintains traffic open on two specific sections of the AP-68: AP-68, from km 162.56 to km 166.85, in both directions, between the borders with La Rioja. From kilometer marker 201.62 to kilometer marker 236.98, in both directions, between the border with La Rioja and the border with Zaragoza. Therefore, this is not a restriction limited to a specific road. The prohibition extends, as a general rule, to the entire Navarre road network for almost seven hours, with the exceptions indicated for the AP-68. The measure will not apply to certain types of transport included among the goods exempted by Navarre regulations. Companies must consult the resolution and check the cargo documentation before considering that the transport may qualify for an exception. The Navarre Traffic Service may also exceptionally allow traffic if traffic conditions permit. The officers responsible for monitoring and regulating traffic may adopt other measures depending on the state of the roads and the volume of traffic. This new restriction is especially relevant for the routes connecting the Basque Country, Navarre, La Rioja, and Aragon. Truck drivers planning to cross Navarre in the afternoon should check if they can use the permitted sections of the AP-68 or if they need to adjust their departure time, make a stop before entering the region, or find an alternative route. It is also advisable to avoid the search for alternative routes ultimately shifting heavy goods traffic onto secondary roads that may have a high concentration of private vehicles.

One of the main changes is not a new restriction, but a modification of a measure that had already been announced.

The initial resolution from the Basque Country established a ban on driving throughout August 12th for vehicles or vehicle combinations with a maximum authorized mass or maximum combined mass exceeding 7,500 kilograms.

The ban was to be in effect from 00:00 to 24:00 on all roads in the Basque Country.

However, the Basque Government subsequently met with road transport associations and professional groups and decided to reduce the duration of the measure. According to information published by Trafikoa on July 24, the new schedule will be: Wednesday, August 12, 2026. From 5:00 PM to 11:59 PM. Vehicles or vehicle combinations weighing more than 7,500 kilograms. On the Basque Country road network. The Basque Government explained that the modification concentrates the restriction during peak traffic hours, thus reducing the impact on transport companies and professionals. Therefore, the affected trucks will be able to circulate for much of the day. The ban will begin at 5:00 PM and will remain in effect until 11:59 PM, coinciding with travel to observation points and the simultaneous departure that may occur after the eclipse. This change is important for route planning. Carriers who can leave the Basque Country before 5:00 PM will avoid the restricted period, provided they comply with all other applicable restrictions for their vehicle and cargo. However, those planning to enter the Basque Country during the afternoon should consider adjusting their schedule or making a stop beforehand. Furthermore, the overlap with the restriction in Navarre may complicate routes connecting the two regions.

The Spanish Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has prepared a special plan to manage the increased traffic in the areas where the total eclipse will be visible.

The initial plan includes special measures on roads in Aragon, Asturias, Castile-La Mancha, Castile and León, La Rioja, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community. However, this does not mean there is a general ban on all trucks in these regions.

The DGT itself indicates in its updated information of August 4 that no generalized traffic restrictions are planned within its jurisdiction.

However, special traffic management and regulation measures may be implemented in the vicinity of the observation points. These measures may include temporary road closures, access control, detours, checkpoints, temporary parking bans, or changes to traffic flow when necessary to maintain safety and traffic flow. The DGT (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic) estimates that traffic to the areas of totality could increase between 30% and 100%, which would represent between 400,000 and 1.5 million additional journeys. Arrival at the observation points may be staggered, but the main problem could arise at the end of the eclipse. Many people may begin their return journey at the same time, generating particularly heavy traffic jams on secondary roads and at the exits of the locations chosen to observe the phenomenon. Although a general ban equivalent to those in the Basque Country or Navarre has not yet been announced, conditions may change depending on traffic. Variable message signs, instructions from officers, and official notices will take precedence over any previously made plans. There may also be local restrictions on access to natural areas, beaches, viewpoints, or designated eclipse viewing areas. These measures may affect a specific road without being part of a general ban on heavy goods vehicles.

The total eclipse will occur on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 12, at the height of the travel season. In addition to the interest generated by the astronomical phenomenon, these days coincide with the approach of the mid-month change in August and the public holiday on the 15th.

The combination of holiday traffic, travel to viewing locations, and regular freight transport activity could make for a particularly complicated day.

In Catalonia, restrictions will begin at 2:00 PM, earlier than the measures in the Basque Country and Navarre. This means that a long route crossing different regions may encounter several restricted periods on the same day.

For example, a truck traveling south on the AP-7 motorway should be aware of the Catalan restrictions starting at 2:00 PM.

Anyone traveling along the route between the Basque Country and Navarre should be aware that both regions will implement restrictions starting at 5:00 PM. It's not enough to calculate the time the vehicle will arrive at each border. It will also be necessary to anticipate possible traffic jams, available parking areas, and compliance with driving and rest time regulations. Service areas and parking lots near the restricted sections may experience higher than usual occupancy. Therefore, it's not advisable to leave your stop until the last minute or rely on finding a space immediately before the restriction begins. When a route crosses several affected areas, it may be safer to move ahead or behind schedule than to try to reach a region's border just minutes before the restriction starts.

Before starting a journey on August 12, it is advisable to double-check the current restrictions. The proximity of the eclipse means that new instructions may be published, especially regarding access to observation areas or roads where an extraordinary increase in traffic is detected.

Transport companies should review the following aspects:

• The exact time of passage through Catalonia, Navarre, and the Basque Country.
• The maximum authorized mass and the maximum combined mass of the vehicle.
• The nature of the goods being transported.
• Any exceptions provided by each administration.
• The available alternative routes.
• Driving and rest times.
• Service areas located before the restricted sections.
• The real-time traffic conditions.

It is also important to inform the customer that the delivery may be affected by an official restriction or extraordinary delays.

Advance planning will allow for reorganizing schedules and preventing the vehicle from being stuck in a place without adequate parking. While driving, drivers must respect variable message signs and the instructions of traffic officers. Authorities may modify the planned regulations if traffic volume, an accident, or any other circumstance requires it. The DGT (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic) reminds drivers that it is completely prohibited to stop on the roadway or shoulders to observe the eclipse. Drivers should also not attempt to view or photograph it while driving. The change in brightness and potential distractions can increase the risk of an accident. There may also be an unusual presence of pedestrians and cyclists in the vicinity of observation points. It will be necessary to reduce speed, increase following distance, and exercise extreme caution, especially on conventional roads.

Currently, the main specific measures that transport professionals must take into account are the following:

Catalonia: southbound restrictions on the AP-7 and N-340 between 2:00 PM and midnight. On the AP-7 northbound, there will be a requirement to drive on the right, a prohibition on overtaking, and a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour on the section indicated by the Catalan Traffic Service.

Navarre: prohibition for goods vehicles or vehicle combinations weighing more than 7,500 kilograms between 5:00 PM and 11:59 PM, with the exceptions provided and two permitted sections of the AP-68.

Basque Country: prohibition for vehicles or vehicle combinations weighing more than 7,500 kilograms between 5:00 PM and 11:59 PM. The initially announced all-day restriction has been reduced. For the rest of the territory managed by the DGT (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic): no additional general prohibition related to the eclipse has been announced, but specific traffic management measures may be applied to access points for observation and on roads with higher traffic volume. This information may be updated again before August 12. Carriers and companies should consult the official channels of the DGT, the Catalan Traffic Service, Trafikoa, and the Navarre Traffic Service before starting any route. Planning your journey in advance will be especially important on a day when restrictions, holiday traffic, and travel to observe the eclipse will coincide on some of the main roads used by freight transport.