Catalonia introduces restrictions for trucks with mega and duo-trailers

Information about the restrictions were published in the Official Journal of Catalonia. The ordinance introduces restrictions for trucks with mega and duo-trailer vehicles and lifts permanent restrictions on all roads with difficulties in traffic management, with the exception of the C-153 in Olot. The list of vehicles exempt from the restrictions has also been extended.

On certain days, such as Easter, restrictions apply to more roads. Restrictions have been planned on the AP-7 motorway, e.g. during the weekend of 30 May to 1 June due to the organisation of a motorcycle race in Montmeló; on the feast of St. John during the \"long weekend\" of 24 June and on Monday, 8 December.

Driving ban for vehicle combinations with mega and double trailers

The movement of vehicle combinations with mega and double trailers is generally prohibited on public holidays, weekends, Friday afternoons and evenings preceding public holidays. On Friday afternoons and the day before public holidays, the ban applies from 3:00 PM to midnight. Vvehicles authorised to drive with two trailers will always have to use the right-hand lane and will not be allowed to overtake.
During the summer period (from 16 June to 11 September), on Sundays and public holidays, vehicle combinations with mega and double trailers are not allowed to drive on the regular sections of the access roads to the Costa Brava: C-253, C-35, C-63, GI-681 and GI-682, although this year other trucks are allowed to use these roads.

Restrictions and the obligation to use the right-hand lane on the AP-7, A-2 and on roads with an additional lane:
- Where restrictions apply as specified in the conditions below, trucks and buses with a GVW of 7,500 kilograms or more must not exceed the maximum speed of 80 km/h.
– Vehicles authorised to drive with two semi-trailers will always have to use the right-hand lane and will not be allowed to overtake.
– Every Friday and Sunday afternoon (from 5:00 PM to 10pm) and Saturday morning (from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM), trucks and buses with a GVW of 7,500 kilograms or more must use the right-hand lane of the AP-7 motorway between Sant Celoni (km 111) and Vilafranca del Penedès (km 200), in both directions of travel.

– The above restriction applies on the following dates:
• Holy Week: Maundy Thursday 17.04, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Good Friday 18.04, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and Easter Monday 21.04, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
• Thursday, May 1, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM;
• Friday before Pentecost, June 6, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM;
• Saturday, June 7, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM;
• Monday, June 9, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM;
• St. John\'s Day, Monday, June 23, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM;
• Tuesday, June 24, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM;
• National Day of Catalonia, Thursday, November 9, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM;
• Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Friday, 5.12, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM;
• Sunday, 7.12, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM;
• Monday, 08.12, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
– Every Sunday from 5.01 to 13.04 and from 7.12 to 28.12 in the afternoon (from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM), heavy goods vehicles and buses with a GVW of 7,500 kilograms or more must use the right lane of the A-2 motorway between Igualada (km 550) and Martorell (km 586), in the direction of Barcelona.
– The roads where an additional lane has been created in the opposite direction, can only be used by light vehicles and motorcycles, which means that other vehicles, including cars with trailers, are not allowed to drive there. On both roads, outside the additional lane, heavy goods vehicles and buses with a GVW of 7,500 kilograms or more must not drive faster than 80 km/h and are not allowed to overtake in any direction, while light vehicles and motorcycles must not drive faster than 100 km/h.

Reduction in the number of roads with permanent restrictions and management difficulties

The following roads have been removed from the list of roads with permanent restrictions, which apply to heavy goods vehicles or combinations of vehicles with a GVW over 7.5 tonnes, vehicles subject to special transport regimes and special vehicles:
• Road C-35 (between Maçanet de la Selva and Massanes)
• Road C-152 (between La Vall d’en Bas and Olot); C-26 (between Ripoll and Cercs)
• C-37 road (between El Pla de Santa Maria and Santa Margarida de Montbui).
The permanent restriction applies only on the C-153 road, from km 60.9 to km 61.9 in Olot.
Permanent restrictions are retained on the following roads (due to heavy goods traffic):
– N-II km 773.5 in La Jonquera to km 709.0 in Fornells.
– N-240 km. 87.4 in Lleida to km. 36.5 in Montblanc.
– N-340 km. 1058.4 in Alcanar to km. 1122.0 in L’Hospitalet de l’Infant.
– N-340 km. 1176.4 in Altafulla to km. 1209.5 in Vilafranca del Penedès.

New exemptions

New exemptions from driving restrictions have been introduced that apply to vehicles or vehicle combinations used for transporting the following products: eggs; dishes that must be kept warm; flowers, cut and potted plants; honey; dressed carcasses; fermenting or hygroscopic products; medicines or medical devices, which must be refrigerated or kept at a specific temperature. In addition, with regard to the transport of animal feed and raw materials for its production, in 2025 the exemption also applies to vehicles supplying feed factories.