Ma-10 closed today: Between tradition and a traffic problem in Sóller

Ma-10 between Soller and Mirador de ses Barques: A day of extremes

Today the Ma-10 from Soller up to the Mirador de ses Barques is fully closed until approximately 8:00 pm. The reason is the traditional hill climb Pujada al Puig Major, which is celebrating its 62nd edition this year. For fans it's a festival: petrol, the roar of V8s and tight hairpins against a spectacular backdrop. For many residents and commuters, however, it is a day full of inconveniences.

The key question is: Is such a race on a heavily used mountain road acceptable at a time when mobility, environmental protection and quality of life are being rethought? Or is the event a piece of island culture that should be preserved?

More than just a road closure

Anyone who stood briefly at the town edge — like I did around 11:15 am — felt the dilemma: the hum of engines instead of birdsong, the smell of oil instead of pine. Helpers with badges, handmade number plates and too much coffee marshaled the cars. Photographers set up tripods, residents pointed out parking with improvised signs. The small-scale chaos is part of the scene.

But the effects go further: the TIB bus line cannot serve parts of the route. Commuters and day-trippers have to replan (see Nightly Closures in the Sóller Tunnel: Commuting, Detours and Smart Solutions), take tactical detours or switch to alternative connections. For tourists without a rental car this can quickly ruin the day. Emergency routes remain open, emphasize police and organizers — but visibility and response times are automatically strained with increased visitor numbers, as reported in Crash on the Ma-10: Bus collides head-on with a truck — What does this say about our roads?.

Aspects that are often overlooked

Hardly anyone talks about subtle damage: traces of oil and petrol in the corners, micro-abrasion of the asphalt from heavy acceleration and braking, stress on old dry-stone walls from parked spectators. Economically some cafes and bars in Soller benefit from the extra crowd, others close as a precaution because of the masses. The distribution of these effects is unequal — a point that rarely features prominently in the debate.

Another underexposed factor is the burden on the public space itself. The Ma-10 is not just any tourist attraction, it is both an arterial road and a living space. When it is closed for an event, it not only contributes to temporary noise pollution, but changes the daily rhythm of people and businesses in the area. The surveillance situation is discussed in Ma-10 without cameras: Why does the waiting in the Tramuntana take so long?.

Concrete opportunities and solutions

Resistance to tradition is not necessary, but a modern adaptation would make sense. Several measures are conceivable: better coordination with TIB for replacement shuttles, clear time limits and noise rules for vehicles, official signed parking zones with shuttle services, and mandatory waste and oil management in sensitive spots. Such rules would reduce the burden on residents without completely changing the character of the race, guided by the European Commission on environmental noise.

In the long term one could consider splitting the race into segments or at least examining alternative routes that pass less through residential areas. Another model would be to allocate parts of the revenue or sponsorship money specifically for noise protection measures, road repairs and local infrastructure — a form of compensation that should be standard today.

What visitors and residents should know now

Practically that means: plan 20–30 minutes extra today if you want to have breakfast in Soller. Many terraces are open, others close temporarily. Follow the marshals to the designated parking areas, avoid spontaneous stopping in corners and respect the barriers — not just for order, but for your own safety.

If you want to use the day to enjoy the view, consider whether a walk from the lower coastal section might be more pleasant than today's hustle and bustle. And if you stand along the route: listen carefully. The rumble of an old V8 is still something between a folk festival and nostalgia on Mallorca — but it should no longer have silent side effects for residents, the environment and traffic.

Organizers and authorities are working together, which is to be welcomed. The question is whether cooperation must not go further in the future: toward clearer rules, better coordination with public transport and real compensation for those affected.