Truck Traffic Restrictions in Spain During the Solar Eclipse

On August 12, a total solar eclipse will affect truck traffic in six regions of Spain. Restrictions will apply in the Basque Country, Navarre, Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Valencia and Cantabria. Depending on the region, these will include bans on trucks over 7.5 tonnes GVW, road closures or temporary changes to traffic management.

The special measures are intended to reduce the risk of congestion across the road network due to the expected increase in travel to locations from which the eclipse will be best visible. In the Basque Country, the scope of the restrictions was additionally modified following opposition from transport organisations and a court ruling.

✅ Basque Country: ban from 17:00 instead of all day

Originally, on August 12, trucks with a GVW of more than 7.5 tonnes were to be subject to a 24-hour traffic ban across the entire road network of the Basque Country. The regulations met with opposition from carriers because they did not provide a corridor for international transport, including traffic between Spain and France via the Irún area. Following a complaint filed by FENADISMER, the High Court of Justice of the Basque Country temporarily suspended the enforcement of the original decision. After consultations with the industry, the Basque Traffic Directorate decided to shorten the restriction.

Ban: August 12, 17:00-23:59
The restriction is to apply to vehicles and vehicle combinations intended for the carriage of goods with a GVW of more than 7.5 tonnes. The new decision is to be published in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country and in Spain's Official State Gazette (BOE). Until then, the original 24-hour ban remains suspended pursuant to the court's decision.

✅ Navarre: ban from 17:00, exemptions on the AP-68

In Navarre, the restrictions will apply to all public roads in the region and to vehicles and vehicle combinations intended for the carriage of goods with a GVW of more than 7.5 tonnes.

Ban: August 12, 17:00-23:59
An exemption has been provided for two sections of the AP-68 Bilbao–Zaragoza motorway, where truck traffic will be permitted in both directions:
• from km 162.56 to km 166.85,
• from km 201.62 to km 236.98.

The ban will also not apply to certain categories of transport exempt under the regulations in force in Navarre, including selected essential, emergency and supply transports. Road services may also permit vehicles to pass if current road conditions allow it.

✅ Catalonia: restrictions on the AP-7 from as early as 14:00

The situation in Catalonia will be more complex. On part of the AP-7, additional traffic-management rules will come into force as early as 14:00, while three hours later a traffic ban will take effect on selected routes towards Tarragona.

Restrictions on the AP-7: August 12, 14:00-24:00
Trucks and buses with a GVW of at least 7.5 tonnes will be required to:
• use only the right-hand lane,
• comply with a no-overtaking restriction,
• travel at a maximum speed of 80 km/h.

The rules will apply to:
- Barcelona direction: AP-7 from km 344 in Ulldecona to km 217 in El Vendrell,
- Tarragona direction: AP-7 from km 171 in Martorell to km 344 in Ulldecona.
From 17:00, the actual traffic ban will come into force on part of the routes.

Ban: August 12, 17:00-24:00
• AP-7, Tarragona direction: from km 171 in Martorell to km 344 in Ulldecona.
• N-340, Tarragona direction: from km 1210 in Vilafranca del Penedès to km 1059 in Alcanar.

The regulations also apply to special transports, special vehicles and the carriage of dangerous goods requiring an orange-plate marking.

Therefore, on the AP-7 towards Tarragona, rules concerning lane use, overtaking and speed will apply from 14:00. From 17:00, vehicles subject to the ban will no longer be permitted to continue along this section.

✅ Balearic Islands: ban on trucks over 7.5 tonnes

In the Balearic Islands, the restrictions will apply to vehicles intended for the carriage of goods with a GVW, or a combined GVW, exceeding 7.5 tonnes.
Ban: August 12, from 15:00
The restriction will cover:
• Ma-19 - from km 3.000 to km 16.000,
• Ma-10 - from km 0.000 to km 110.000,
• Ma-6014 - from km 0.000 to km 37.300,
• Camí de Tramontana - from km 0.000 to km 8.000.

The restrictions may be introduced earlier if road conditions or overcrowding at designated parking areas require it.

On Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, additional road closures and special traffic-management measures may also be introduced. However, this does not automatically mean a truck traffic ban on all of the routes listed above.

In Palma, exits 6, 7A and 8 from the Ma-19, among others, are scheduled to be closed from 12:00.

✅ Valencia: possible closures of the V-15 and CV-500

In Valencia, no separate ban has been established for trucks over 7.5 tonnes. The regulations do, however, allow for the complete or partial closure of selected road sections.

Restrictions: August 12, 18:00-21:00
The measures will cover:
• V-15 - from km 0+000 to km 4+000, up to the junction with the CV-500,
• CV-500 - from km 0+000 to km 6+500 and from km 6+500 to km 15+000, in the specified directions.

An additional factor is the high fire risk. A pre-alert level 3 has been scheduled for August 12, which involves, among other measures, traffic restrictions on forest roads and paths.

✅ Cantabria: special rules on the CA-916

In Cantabria, the restrictions concern the CA-916 road in the municipality of Campoo de Suso, on the section from km 0.0 to Fuente del Chivo.
Possible closures from 00:00 until 23:59 on August 13, 2026

The decision allows for the complete or partial closure of this section. This is not a separate traffic ban for trucks over 7.5 tonnes, but rather part of a special safety plan prepared for the duration of the eclipse.