Long traffic jams on Palma's Ring Road after truck breakdown

Chaos on the Vía de Cintura: Truck breaks down, Palma is gridlocked

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This morning, shortly after seven, a stranded truck disrupted the ring road around Palma quite a bit. I was on my way to work and could hear the honks and brake lights already at the exit near Son Gotleu. In the left lane toward Andratx the truck suddenly stopped — right in the middle of the rush hour.

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The consequences were quickly visible: kilometer-long traffic jams on the approaches to Inca, Llucmajor and Manacor. Commuters, school buses and delivery vans crawled along; some frantically looked for detours through side streets. A bus driver got out, shook his head and said he hadn't seen anything like this in ten years.

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What the authorities report

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The Spanish traffic authority DGT reported the incident shortly after 7 a.m. and noted significant disruptions. Emergency services and tow trucks were on site, but recovering the truck dragged on. For many commuters, that meant considerably longer travel times, missed appointments, and annoyed drivers.

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Local impressions

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On the roadside, motorcyclists in yellow high-visibility vests stood and helped with rerouting. At a nearby gas station, people sat with coffee in hand, commenting on the situation loudly. The weather was typical for autumn — cool air, but dry streets. No rain, so no additional danger. Still, the traffic problems extended into the city center.

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Several commuters reported that navigation apps suggested complete detours that went through small villages. Some annoyances are obvious: when the highway doesn't flow, the access roads also clog up automatically.

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Outlook

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Authorities urged using public transport where possible or shifting travel times if possible. By noon the backlog gradually eased, but the aftereffects remained noticeable. Anyone traveling on the Vía de Cintura today should still plan for a little extra time.

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If you were affected or have photos, feel free to send us a message — local experiences help other readers plan better. And yes: a broken-down truck can throw an entire city off schedule. That’s all part of Palma's morning routine.