These are the DGT measures for the "Puente del Pilar 2018"

The DGT will deploy a special safety operation these days, ahead of the 5.1 million trips expected for the Puente del Pilar.

Today the Puente del Pilar begins, and the Directorate-General for Traffic has launched a special safety operation that starts today at 15:00 and will end on Sunday 14 at 24:00. This special operation will aim to ensure safety on our roads in the face of the 5.1 million trips expected over these days.

Peak traffic hours

The most significant traffic problems will occur on Thursday and Sunday. For this afternoon, heavy traffic is expected on the exits from the major urban centres, before concentrating in the early evening in the destination areas. On Friday morning intense traffic is also expected on the exits from the large cities.

On the other hand, on Sunday the return of the so-called “Operation Pilar 2018” will begin. Traffic problems will occur on the major national roads, motorways and dual carriageways, and late at night the traffic will shift to the access roads of the major urban centres.

Resources available to the DGT for the “Puente del Pilar”

In addition to human resources, the DGT has systems installed on the roads that allow it to know the state of traffic and communicate incidents to drivers: 1,690 television cameras, 2,466 data collection stations, 2,310 variable message signs and broadcasting through the national traffic information access point. There are also 12 helicopters carrying out surveillance missions from their bases in Madrid, Valencia, Málaga, Seville, Zaragoza, Valladolid and A Coruña.

Measures to be carried out during the bridge holiday

With all these material and human resources, the DGT will carry out the following measures to ensure our safety on the roads:

• Additional reversible lanes will be installed with cones during the periods of greatest traffic flow and on the main access roads to the major cities.

• The circulation of vehicles carrying dangerous goods, special transport and heavy vehicles over 7,500 kg will be restricted on certain stretches, dates and times.

• Road works will be halted and the holding of sporting events and other events that occupy the carriageway will be limited.

• Alternative routes will be recommended according to origin and destination, if necessary.

• Alcohol and drug checks will be carried out on any type of road and at any time. Surveillance will be intensified on conventional roads

• Compliance with traffic rules will be monitored from the roadside and from the air with the 8 Pegasus speed cameras that the DGT has at its disposal.