Traffic Chaos on Croatia’s Coastal Highways

The news in Croatian

1. zakrčiti
   stanje kada je nešto puno i teško prohodno, obično zbog gužve. ↩︎
2. naplatna
   koji se odnosi na plaćanje ili naplatu, često povezana s cestama gdje se naplaćuje cestarina. ↩︎
3. postaja  (f.)
   mjesto gdje se nešto zaustavlja ili obavlja, poput stanice ili točke na autocesti. ↩︎
4. oluja  (f.)
   nepogoda s jakim vjetrom i oborinama, obično kišom ili grmljavinom. ↩︎
5. djelomičan
   u nekom dijelu ili mjeri, ali ne potpuno. ↩︎
6. alternativan
   koji predstavlja drugu mogućnost ili opciju. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What caused the traffic jams on the Croatian highways?

Question 2: What advice was given to drivers during the traffic chaos?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
zakrčiti	to block
naplatna	toll
postaja  (f.)	station
oluja  (f.)	storm
djelomičan	partially
alternativan	alternative

Read the full story

Croatia experienced significant traffic disruptions across its highway network due to a combination of increased tourist flow and adverse weather conditions. The nation’s roads witnessed long queues, primarily affecting routes leading to the coast, as well as internal movements towards major cities.

According to the Croatian Auto Club (HAK), traffic was particularly congested on the A1 motorway leading from Zagreb towards the coastal city of Dubrovnik. The most severe bottleneck was reported at the Lučko toll gate, where queues stretched over 11 kilometres. Additional delays were observed between Zagreb and the intersection of Bosiljevo, and further on towards Zadar.

The strong storm conditions led to partial closures of route sections, including the crucial segment of the A1 between Sveti Rok and Rovanjska, which was only accessible to personal vehicles. This necessitated detours via state roads for other vehicle types. Moreover, access restrictions were placed on other prominent routes like the Jadranska magistrala (DC8), where specific vehicle categories such as buses, caravans, and motorcycles faced bans between Senj and Karlobag due to hazardous winds.

Compounding the traffic turmoil was the influx of attendees to a major concert in Sinj, coinciding with the national Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day. Authorities anticipated up to 200,000 visitors in Sinj, notifying the public about significant congestion on state roads, particularly the DC1. Traffic management efforts were advised, urging the use of alternative routes and encouraging consultation with traffic updates to avoid disruption.

Aside from road traffic, maritime transport was not immune to disruptions, with the cessation of the Prizna – Žigljen ferry and changes to other maritime schedules due to the inclement weather.

As the high tourist season peaks, Croatian officials urged drivers to exercise patience and caution, emphasizing the importance of maintaining safe distances and adherence to posted guidelines amid ongoing roadworks and high traffic volumes. This collective effort is crucial in ensuring safety and mitigating further traffic-related disturbances as Croatia navigates another busy summer period.

Info: “Croatian Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Croatian,” a language school dedicated to teaching Croatian. We offer various types of online courses, and for those interested in a more immersive experience, our programme includes the opportunity to learn Croatian in Croatia.