Nighttime construction on Palma's ring road: Vía de Cintura and Sóller Tunnel — who pays the price?

Night-time works on Palma's ring road: who pays the price?

From this evening Palma's traffic will once again be diverted overnight: On the Vía de Cintura new road markings will be applied over the next two weeks between 22:00 and 06:00, as reported in Trabajos nocturnos en la Vía de Cintura de Palma y en el túnel de Sóller. At the same time there is a night-time closure for the Sóller Tunnel until 13 November — from Monday to Thursday each night from 22:00, while it remains open from Friday to Sunday, with more details available in Cierres nocturnos en el túnel de Sóller: desplazamientos, desvíos y soluciones inteligentes. The key question remains: Are such night-time interventions really the best solution for the city — or do they simply shift problems onto other groups?

What commuters and residents are now feeling

In practice this means for drivers: instead of three or two lanes often only one lane is open. Early morning traffic jams at the approaches to the centre are therefore not the exception. People who work late or have to set off very early are particularly affected — hotel staff, care workers, shift workers, delivery services. Residents also feel the effects: site lighting, running machinery and additional traffic flows on side streets disturb sleep.

Those who normally drive through the Sóller Tunnel at night now have to allow an additional ten to twenty minutes or take the winding Ma-11 instead. That may sound harmless, but for commuters it's an additional daily burden. And not to forget: scheduled buses and delivery traffic are being rerouted, which can disrupt complex supply chains.

Why work at night — and what gets overlooked

The official justification is plausible: there are fewer vehicles at night, works disturb daytime traffic less and markings need dry, calm time windows. In addition, this is part of a large modernization programme with an investment volume of around €164 million. But some aspects remain barely discussed in the public debate:

- Noise and light pollution: Machinery, spotlights and service vehicles create a noise and light environment that keeps residents in Palma and the outskirts awake. This has consequences for health and quality of life, as described in WHO environmental noise guidelines.

- Coordination with the night economy: Restaurants, hotels, airport transfers and logistics suffer when access routes become unpredictable. Some businesses depend on reliable night connections.

- Safety for vulnerable road users: The changed lane layout in the dark increases the risk for motorcyclists and cyclists. Temporary bike lanes or safe crossings are often neglected.

Concrete opportunities and solutions

A critical look also provides actionable suggestions — things that could make the works more efficient and more tolerable:

- Better communication: Not just warning signs, but active information channels: SMS alerts for registered commuters, up-to-date notices on EMT Palma bus lines, cooperation with taxi and logistics companies.

- Noise and light management: Aim spotlights so residential areas are affected as little as possible; choose low-noise asphalt and machines; limit particularly loud work to shorter time windows.

- Prioritized lanes for buses and emergency vehicles: So that public transport and emergency services do not get stuck in traffic — this also relieves the rest of the traffic.

- Flexible closure plans: Instead of rigid weekly closures: adaptive work schedules based on traffic data, fewer interventions on days with increased night traffic (e.g. events, holidays).

- Visual screening and safe cycle paths: Temporary barriers and clear, well-lit diversions for cyclists and motorcyclists.

Practical tips from everyday life in Mallorca

What can those affected do right away? Here are simple, proven tips from daily life on the island:

- Plan routes: Check your navigation in real time, avoid known bottlenecks and consider the Ma-11 road as an alternative to the tunnel.

- Shift times: If possible, adjusting the start of work or delivery windows slightly can save time and nerves.

- Ask your employer: Many companies now offer flexible models — it's worth asking, especially for regular night shifts.

- Secure rest: For those affected: earplugs, blackout curtains and using official complaint channels at the municipality in good time.

Conclusion: necessity meets the need for thoughtful planning

The night-time works on the Vía de Cintura and in the Sóller Tunnel are more than annoying traffic news: they show how closely infrastructure, daily life and night-time quiet rights are intertwined in Mallorca. Yes, such measures reduce disruption during the day and are part of necessary investments. But the way they are implemented determines whether the burden is fairly distributed — or whether a few hours of night work shift the load unfairly onto commuters, night workers and residents.

My advice: allow a bit more time for the coming nights, check public transport notices and report concrete problems to the responsible authorities. And remember: good construction planning is not a luxury, it is municipal consideration — you notice it when it is missing.