Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Can anyone give me news on what the roads are like at the moment or point me to something online that can give me latest news?

I heard that this morning the main road up towards Teruel was blocked.

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Hi,
Have a look here:
http://www.dgt.es/portal/informacion...incidencias.do

Carol

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

No snow problems currently in Madrid province according to that. Probably best to drive via Madrid to Bilbao?

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Thanks S, but I prefer to go the way I know if I can, which is all motorway / major roads, so I am assuming clear. Going via madrid is an extra 120 odd kms, and according to Viamichelin another 1.5 hours.
:fingerscrossed:

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Well fair enough, snow forecast in more areas by tomorrow anyway. Hope your route clears up. Good luck!

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

In which case I may well end up taking the long route :D

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Don't forget your Snowchains and a Shovel, Mitzy.
Oh, and maybe a few sarnies and a flask of hot coffee as well.
Just never know,....could be a while before they find you if you get stuck in a snowdrift!
Best of luck.......:ohmy:

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Watching the Spanish news channels, I wouldn’t attempt that journey at this time, you’d be driving right through the most affected areas. The police won’t even let you go on to some of those roads unless you have chains and a full tank of petrol. Can’t you put the journey off?

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

I was about to say the same thing having seen the news the past few days



I have a sneaky suspicion that Mitz can't put it off though;)


maybe you should start off a couple of days early mitz & plan for a couple of ovenight stays on the way?

and definitely don't forget the snow chains - there is more snow forecast for just about the entire country today

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Unfortunately I can't. As the route may suggest, I'm running for a ferry.
However, as I mentioned, the route is mainly motorway all the way. Are the motorways not clear?

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

have a look at that DGT link, you can look at the latest conditions on the roads there

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Are snow Chains a mandatory requirement at this time of year and do you have to carry a fullset or just for the driving wheels?

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

on the news they are saying not to leave home without them, in affected areas



don't know if they're mandatory, but looking at some of the roads you wouldn't get far without them:eek::eek:

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Hi Mitzy,

Last year in late jan we travelled down from eurotunnel just in front of the snow plume that stopped UK for 3 weeks it reached us just as we crossed the Spanish border. We were amazed at the preparation. About every mile from the border to south of Burgos they had a gritter with snow plough parked up in the central reservation ready to go in either direction as the snow arrived. Contrast that with UK where the ploughs could not get onto the roads since they were already blocked by stranded cars at the first flakes. Spain does some things good!

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Just spoken to a haulier (way2go) who uses the routes regularly and who is also doing this run tomorrow. The national routes and toll roads are kept quite clear with snow plows hitting them all the time. Its when you go off the main national roads that problems happen
Even so, I have booked a hotel in Bilbao and am driving during the day tomorrow instead of leaving it overnight.
Temperatures have dropped here and we just had a flurry of snow

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

it feels pretty cold here too - & the sky looks 'snowy' but I bet we don't get any

dd1 really wants a snowball fight - she's old enough to remember them


I've been watching TV1 all morning & all they are talking about is the snow - but you're right, they are very good with the grit & snowploughs on the motorways

at this moment they are showing Burgos where they have tons of snow & it's -5 and somewhere near Guadalajara where it's -16!


take your time - best idea to have the hotel booked

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

The very best of luck on the journey which is long at the best of times.

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

If I can find free wifi I'll update on how we get on! :lol:

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

:thumbsup:and lots of snowy photos

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

In my search for weather details I came accross this site, well worth a look
Some of you probably know it

http://www.eltiempo.es/

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Nice one Mitzy.
Shall certainly use it as a guide before I set off down via Pamplona,Zaragosa and Teruel.

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Good evening peeps!

Just to tell you I am now in the lobby of the Grand Hotel Puente Colgante at Portugalete, on the river just by the Vizcaya Bridge.

I travelled up during the day due to worries about the weather. There was a lot of snow in places, but the only place it was reallty heavy was just North of Zaragoza. The main roads other than that were completely free, and there were a lot of snow ploughs around keeping them so.

So unless there is a lot of snow over the next few days I'd say you are fairly safe in travelling in the area on the national roads and tolls.

Just had a nice meal ... dorada washed down with a nice rioja. Its the vomit express for me tomorrow at midday I'm afraid :lol:

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Kath sends her heartfelt sympathy there and back once never again. She was very poorly in both directions and the crew said it was flat calm!

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

I didn’t envy you your drive to Bilbao and I’m pleased it went OK. I do envy you your boat trip, I’ve done it a few times and I love it. Look out for the whales on the bay of Biscay.

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Mitzy,

There should be snow to greet you at Pompy. It's forcast for the south starting at 3am.

PM me for my mobile, if you need shelter.

J

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Great thread with excellent links!

I am travelling down from the UK on the 22nd/23rd intending to use the Le Mans - Tours - Poitiers - Angoulême - Bordeaux - Biarritz - border - San Sebastian - Pamplona - Zaragoza - Teruel - Valencia - Javea route.

I use toll roads/autovia routes only but was concerned about crossing the Pyrenees in my rear wheel drive car. I will use these sites to make the decision in Bordeaux (overnighting there) whether to go via Biarritz or Toulouse.

Thanks for the thread!

:thumbup:

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

glad you made it mitz - & a good noght in the hotel wll set you up for the vomit express

now you just have to get through the snowy roads in the UK - & I bet they're not as well-gritted!

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

A decent blanket of snow awaits you in the Midlands, Mitz!

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Is Mitzy really Father Christmas delivering the goodies ?
I thought he flew over the snow.

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Thats the route we use about as far as Burgos then we keep heading west as far as Salamanca then south to Seville and west again to Ayamonte. As I said in my previous post we did this last January and were so impressed by the preparations of the road maintenance people. I think you plan is just about right but I might plan an overnight just over the border at Irun then head along the coast road a bit before turning south,

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Well ...... it appears there was a force 9 gale en route on the ferry, but I must have slept through it, so no problem there!

Despite concerns about snow in the UK, didnt see any ...... until we came to umload th car and then it came down thick, but not for long

So after all the worry it was a pretty uneventful trip!

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

:thumbsup:


when do you do the return trip?


just so that we can order up a force 10:lol:

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Like the avatar:rofl:Feliz Navadad to you :rofl:

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

We will be doing the same journey next week. Not looking forward to it.

Off topic: Does anyone know of a good,cheap-ish hotel in or near Bilbao?

Thanks

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

I know of an extremely good one just a couple of kms from the port, next to the transporter bridge HERE

It cost €70 if you book it through www.booking.com, but bear in mind if you cant find a street parking space you have to pay for the undergound secure parking

It may be more than you were budgeting for but its right in the centre of Portugalete old town and its worth it!

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Thanks for that Mitzyboy.

We had a look at the place but have decided to book a hotel in Ortuella because of easier parking. (Shergar is disabled and has just had his 9th heart attack so can't walk very far).

We will let you know what the place was like on our return.

I am dreading the journey, especially the crossing and I praying for no wind and a flat as a mirror sea. Then I am hoping for a warm wind from the Sahara so all the snow melts in UK before we get there.

(one may live in hope)

:fingerscrossed:

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

No probs, although parking at that hotel is right under the hotel, served by a lift.

I'm sure the crossing will be fine. We've used it a few times, and its been fairly smooth

Re: Roads: Valencia / Zaragoza / Bilbao
 

Just arrived back home.

The crossing towards UK was fine, arrival in UK was a white welcome and we stuck it out for nearly 3 weeks! :eek:

Glad to be back although our return was Portsmouth to St Malo and then a long drive through France (no snow but thick fog).

Just wonder if someone on this forum (driving a red nifty car) came back on the same boat (we left Portsmouth on sunday night) as we kept on overtaking it and then they overtook us. Even after an overnight stop we saw them again on the road between Pamplona and Zaragossa. Two lovely looking ladies, and we never got to talk to one another. If you are out there and reading this, please give us a wave? :cool: