Heavy traffic hits Baní Bypass as Holy Week travel begins

Long traffic delays were reported early this Holy Thursday on the route to the southern region, as dozens of drivers became stuck in heavy congestion near the Baní bypass exit, extending to the Ocoa intersection.

The traffic jam stretched for several kilometers, causing significant delays for travelers heading to tourist destinations and family gatherings for the Easter holiday. Despite measures implemented by authorities—such as enabling both lanes in one direction to speed up the flow—confusion and disorder worsened the situation.

Drivers reported that some vehicles continued using lanes incorrectly, creating bottlenecks that slowed overall movement. The lack of clear guidance and failure to follow traffic instructions contributed to the chaos at a critical point designed to ease congestion.

The surge in traffic was expected due to the high number of people leaving the capital for the South during Holy Week. However, the volume of vehicles quickly exceeded road capacity, turning the Baní bypass into a major congestion hotspot at the start of the holiday travel period.