Traffic Jam, Dispute, and Standstill: Sóller's Bypass Road Is Stuck

When the main road becomes a patience-testing ordeal every morning

On weekday mornings around 9:00, driving the bypass road to Sóller, you know it: slow-moving traffic, buses, tour groups with suitcases, and pedestrians who, out of habit, use the roadway because sidewalks are missing. In the evenings, between 17:00 and 19:00, the same picture appears – peak hours that no one likes.

Why the redesign is stalling

There is actually a plan: four new roundabouts, a continuous bike path, clear park-and-ride areas, and a no-parking zone along the shoulder. The idea sounds sensible and would be – most say – a gain for safety. But the implementation is stuck. Many blame the lack of exchange between the Island Council, the traffic authority DGT, and the municipality. Discussions that should have taken place for over a year are dragging on.

'The plans are there, but the signature is missing here and the OK is missing there,' says a resident who often travels the route by bike. Sound familiar? It is. Those leaving the bakery in Can Repic in the morning already hear the honks.

Parking problems and bollards – a half-solution

Bollards have been installed, new parking spaces designated. Yet many drivers still park their cars along the shoulder – often for convenience, often because official parking is closed seasonally. This leads to blocked lanes and frustration for bus drivers, suppliers and residents. Checks? Hardly. The local police do not reach every corner.

Another point: pedestrians, especially tourist groups, spread out onto the street when the sidewalk is missing. That increases the risk of accidents. You hear conversations about dangerous moments in the cafés on the Plaza every day.

What lies ahead

The Island Council, DGT and municipal administration plan to sit down again in the coming days. The goal: clarify open questions, define responsibilities, so that construction can begin by the end of 2025. Will that work? Many are skeptical. Experiences of the past months have tempered expectations.

A glimmer of hope: If the roundabouts come and the bike path is actually implemented, the route could become safer and more relaxed. Until then, Sóller remains a bottleneck during peak hours – with frustrated drivers, stressed bus drivers, and residents who eventually want a solution that lasts longer than a single season's planning.