Roads in the Valencian Community are entering the second half of the October holiday weekend, for which 1,267,200 long-distance journeys are forecast. Short local trips will dominate on Sunday, but the most difficult period will come on Monday afternoon, when returning traffic builds first on major routes and then on approaches to towns and cities.
Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) will keep its special operation in place until midnight on Monday 12 October. On Sunday it expects mainly short journeys to leisure areas near cities, with lighter congestion than on the other days of the holiday period. A single incident can still change conditions quickly, so the forecast is no substitute for checking the road before departure.
Return traffic will begin to intensify early on Monday afternoon. In the Valencian Community, the most difficult window is expected between 4pm and 9pm, while the national forecast extends the period of disruption to 11pm. Queues usually develop first on motorways and then move towards the approaches to València, Alicante, Castelló and other urban areas.
Leaving before midday or after the busiest period may reduce the chance of delays, but it cannot guarantee a clear journey. The DGT advises drivers to check incidents immediately before setting off through its live traffic map, broadcast bulletins or the 011 information line. Once on the road, electronic signs take precedence if a crash, closure or diversion changes the route.
The Valencian forecast accounts for just over one fifth of the 5,760,000 long-distance journeys expected across Spain. With the regional 9 October holiday adjoining the weekend and Monday’s national holiday, departures and returns are spread across four days, drawing drivers towards the coast, second homes and mountain areas.
Traffic managers may open additional lanes or lanes running against the normal direction when volumes require it. Restrictions also apply to certain heavy goods vehicles, abnormal loads and dangerous goods under the annual resolution published in Spain’s official gazette. Temporary road signs govern each affected section and override the ordinary lane layout.
The operation ends at midnight on Monday. The next verifiable update will be the official traffic and collision balance, or any major incident that forces the forecast windows to change.