If you thought traffic jams on highways were just boring everyday occurrences, think again! Lučko has become synonymous with traffic hell these days, all because of the Marko Perković Thompson concert that attracted crowds from all over Croatia and the region. For days, there have been kilometer-long queues on the A1 highway towards Zagreb and Split, and the situation peaked in the evening when the number of vehicles exploded. The police urged concertgoers to start their journey earlier, but most ignored the warnings, making the traffic jams inevitable.
At the Lučko and Ivanja Reka toll stations, the queues were massive, stretching up to two kilometers. Even though seven toll lanes were open at Lučko, waiting times were unavoidable, and traffic crawled at a snail’s pace. The worst is expected in the early morning hours of the next day when all concert attendees will be returning home. The Croatian Auto Club (HAK) and Croatian Highways (HAC) have increased patrols and prepared traffic management plans, but will it be enough?
The situation is not just a local problem. Queues extend towards the Slovenian border, and traffic jams have been reported on other important roads like the Istrian Y and the Adriatic Highway. Zagreb has implemented special traffic regulations, and residents near the concert venue face street closures and movement restrictions. All this because of one concert, which, according to Interior Minister Davor Božinović, might be the largest in Croatia’s history.
Is it worth it? Thompson gathered people from all over Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and even abroad. The concert is truly spectacular, featuring a special guest, retired bishop Ante Ivas, who wrote a song that Thompson will perform. But the price for this spectacle is chaos on the roads, driver frustration, and days lost in traffic jams.
If you found yourself in this traffic madness, you know what we’re talking about. If not, just wait for the next big event and prepare for the same. While authorities try to keep everything under control, the question remains: is it possible to organize such massive events without the whole country getting stuck in traffic?
And finally, is this the price for a good time or just another proof that our roads and traffic infrastructure are completely unprepared for such challenges? Share your traffic jam stories with us, maybe together we’ll find a solution or at least have a laugh at our own misery!
