Nightly construction works on Palma's belt road and in the Sóller Tunnel

Night-time work – what residents and commuters should know now

From tonight, be careful on Palma's ring road: On the Vía de Cintura, in the coming two weeks at night new road markings will be laid. The works run each between 22:00 and 06:00. In practice this means: instead of three, two, or as usual several lanes, there is usually only one lane open. Traffic jams in the early morning hours are therefore plausible – especially at the accesses towards the city center.

At the same time, until 13 November there is a nightly closure rule for the Sóller Tunnel. The tunnel will be closed from Monday to Thursday each at 22:00, Friday to Sunday it remains open. Those who normally commute late in the evening or early in the morning between Sóller and Palma should therefore plan at least ten to twenty minutes more or choose alternative routes.

Why all this just now?

The measures are part of a larger program for renewing and securing the island's main roads. Behind the scenes an investment package of around 164 million euros is underway, with which several sections have already been modernized. For the workers that means long nights, and for drivers, well, patience.

Practical tips from everyday life

A few things I've observed in the last nights myself: Detours are usually well signposted, but not every side street is built for heavy traffic. If possible, shift trips to off-peak times. Delivery traffic and trucks often use the night hours – so if you are out late yourself, expect a large distance to construction vehicles.

Public transport may also be affected; some lines have been adjusted to allow buses to serve the detours. If you regularly use the tunnel, check the line pages or local traffic information in advance.

What authorities ask

The authorities ask for consideration and slow driving in construction areas. The combination of darkness, changed lane configuration and new markings requires heightened attention – cyclists and motorcyclists are particularly at risk here.

And yes, it's annoying. But such works at night reduce the total disruption during the day. If all goes smoothly, the morning traffic should soon run more normally – at least until the next construction site.

If you are affected: Note departure times, check the navigation system for real-time traffic updates, and follow the signs. A little planning often saves a lot of time and nerves.