The A9 motorway, so vital for the road connection between France and Spain, had been blocked since Monday by Catalan demonstrators with political demands that they would have liked to make heard until, at least, Wednesday. But the authorities intervened and the sacred path has now been passable since 16:30 p.m. The Valencia Grand Prix is therefore on track, however be careful, the said demonstrators have retreated onto the national roads…
« Following the work and security operations carried out by the Vinci Autoroute company, the A9 motorway is once again open to traffic. » This is the announcement from the Pyrénées-Orientales prefecture. A joint operation between the French gendarmerie and the Catalan police, the Mossos d'Esquadra, was launched this Tuesday morning to raise dams erected on this busy and vital route for commerce. Between 3.000 and 5.000 trucks cross this border every day, at the eastern end of the Pyrenees.
After leaving the highway, the demonstrators retreated to La Jonquère, a town in Spanish Catalonia near the border, where they blocked the N-II national road. They are protesting against the sentencing in mid-October of nine Catalan independence leaders to heavy prison sentences for their role in the 2017 secession attempt.
Concerning the paddock, the stewardship went through Andorra today, thus avoiding any problems. And our special correspondent has taken up residence!
