Mass Exodus to Coast Causes Kilometre-Long Traffic Jams in Croatia

The start of the weekend triggered a massive exodus towards Croatia's coast, with thousands of citizens and tourists hitting the roads. Major traffic jams formed early Saturday, particularly around the Lučko toll plaza near Zagreb, where drivers faced kilometer-long queues. The Croatian Automobile Club (HAK) reported significant congestion on the A1 highway towards Karlovac and further south to the Adriatic coast, with traffic moving slowly in lanes and occasional standstills.

Beyond the Lučko bottleneck, the A1 highway saw queues stretching about a kilometer before the toll plaza and slow-moving traffic with brief stops between Lučko and Karlovac. The density of traffic increased along the entire route to the coast. The A2 Zagreb-Macelj highway also experienced heavy traffic, though primarily in the direction of Zagreb.

Drivers also encountered delays on the old Karlovac road, DC1, near Rakov Potok, due to increased traffic volume. HAK cautioned that further delays are possible throughout the day in areas with ongoing road construction and where traffic lanes are narrowed. This includes sections of the A1 and A6 highways, the Istarski ipsilon, and the DC1 and DC3 routes through Lika and Gorski Kotar.

Ferry ports and bridges, like the one to Krk Island, were also bracing for increased traffic and potential waiting times as tourists arrived. Travelers were advised to check road conditions before departing and adjust their speed accordingly.