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Gran Canaria Prepares for Papal Visit: Traffic Cuts and Special Security Measures

The Island Council details mobility restrictions and alternatives for June 11th and 12th.

Generic image of police emergency lights reflecting on wet asphalt at night.
IA

Generic image of police emergency lights reflecting on wet asphalt at night.

Pope Leo XIV's visit to Gran Canaria on June 11th and 12th will cause significant traffic disruptions on the GC-1 and GC-3, impacting island-wide mobility.

The arrival of Pope Leo XIV in Gran Canaria on June 11th and 12th will trigger a large-scale security and traffic operation affecting the island's main roads. The Minister of Public Works for the Cabildo, Augusto Hidalgo, outlined the plans, calling the visit a "historic moment" that will inevitably lead to "inconveniences for citizens" due to strict mobility restrictions.
The operation will involve "dynamic closures," creating a security "bubble" around the papal entourage. According to Hidalgo, roads will be closed in both directions, even if the convoy is moving in one direction, with traffic reopening progressively. This operation is comparable to the one for Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit but is more complex due to its duration and multiple scheduled events.
Wednesday, June 11th, will be the most challenging day. The GC-1 highway will experience closures along almost its entire length, from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (km 0) to Arguineguín (km 61), generally between 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Specific closures are planned southbound (km 15-56) from 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM and northbound (km 56 to the capital) from 12:15 PM to 1:15 PM. Access ramps from the GC-1 to the GC-500 will be closed from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM.
In the afternoon, restrictions will extend to the GC-3 (Circumvallation) and GC-31, near the San José tunnel, from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM, due to a large event at the Gran Canaria Stadium. Hidalgo warned that it will be "impossible" to reach the Siete Palmas area by private vehicle after 3:00 PM, advising attendees to arrive early, by 2:00 PM at the latest, as approximately 150,000 people are expected.
In light of this situation, the minister recommended that citizens opt for remote work, adjust their schedules, or avoid non-essential travel. For those who must go to work, the warning is clear: "You will have to go very early, or you will get stuck in traffic," stated Hidalgo, acknowledging the difficulty of arriving on time.
Friday, June 12th, will also present morning complications. The Pope's transfer to the airport for his flight to Tenerife will necessitate closures on the GC-1 between Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Gando, from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM, coinciding with peak hours. Citizens needing to use this route are advised to travel "before 6 in the morning."
For specific situations, such as traveling from Las Palmas to Telde in the afternoon, the Avenida Marítima is suggested as an alternative, although it may experience heavier traffic. Public transport will be "maximally" reinforced, also utilizing discretionary transport (usually school buses) for event attendees, a measure facilitated by the suspension of classes.
The organization of the security detail falls under the Ministry of the Interior, with the National Police and Civil Guard executing the closures. The Cabildo has collaborated by providing materials and access to traffic control cameras, whose monitoring is centralized in Madrid for security reasons. The use of helicopters for transfers was ruled out due to the convoy's size and security concerns.

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