The Soller bypass – the main route into the town, the Serra de Tramuntana and the only road linking Soller with the Port without cutting through the centre – remains gridlocked, particularly at peak hours.
More than a year ago the Consell promised a major overhaul, reclassifying the road as an urban thoroughfare. Work was slated to begin at the end of 2025, but officials now admit the project has yet to be drafted, with agreement still pending between the Consell, the DGT and the Town Hall.
Plans include four new roundabouts between Can Repic and the tram crossing at l’Horta, near the Escorca road. The stretch would then boast eight roundabouts in total, designed to slow traffic, create safe pedestrian crossings and add a cycle lane. Parking on the verges was to be banned, with park-and-ride facilities easing demand.
While bollards have been installed and four such car parks opened – not without controversy over their impact – many drivers continue to avoid them, preferring to park illegally on the verges to avoid paying. The car parks are also temporary, authorised on rural land for only eight months of the year. The Town Hall says it will rotate openings to comply, with two more sites planned for the low season.
Daily congestion is compounded by residents and tourists forced to walk on the road itself, often at risk. Signage has been upgraded, but the Town Hall still lacks the authority to issue fines, even as illegal parking remains rife.
A fresh three-way meeting between the Consell, DGT and Town Hall is expected in the coming days in the hope of finally pushing the long-delayed scheme forward and, at the very least, improving road safety.