Irun city center faces congestion from border traffic queues

The city center of Irun is experiencing significant traffic congestion due to vehicle queues forming at the border with Hendaye. Drivers attempting to bypass these queues are using GPS to find alternative routes through rural roads, which ultimately leads them into the heart of Irun, causing local gridlock.

On August 13, queues on the AP-8 highway heading toward Bayonne reached 13 kilometers. Irun Mayor Cristina Laborda has requested exceptional measures, such as lifting barrier restrictions or managing traffic before it reaches the border, to mitigate the impact on residents. While the local government has implemented a device since 2024 to filter traffic at city entrances, officials suggest that control outside of Irun, specifically at the exits of Oiartzu, is necessary to prevent drivers from bringing the congestion into local streets.