Today will be the first Saturday on the A-44 with the Rules Bridge out of use and traffic diverted or on the A-348 (Lanjarón/Órgiva road) or the old N-323a - so far so good, you may think.

But wait! Today, with all the traffic heading down to the coast because it’s a weekend and beach weather is still with us… the A-348 will be closed because of a bicycle race! Can you believe it?

What bureaucrat, desk-jockey idiot decided to let one of the two alternative routes to the coast be closed to traffic on the very first weekend with no Rules Bridge in use; i.e. all the traffic heading down to the coast diverted off the autovía onto secondary roads?

Why the hell didn’t they cancel the race? What is more important, a bicycle race or the total traffic displacement from inland down to the coast? It’s a no brainer!

(Grumble: Bicycle Race Trumps Common Sense)

Reader’s comment: “Look at the sign, the date is 20th September! Not today” – Michael

How dare you deny an old fart a righteous grumble with mere details! 😉

Reader’s comment: ““Pure Madness”, exactly how I would describe the driving antics of some people on the 323 since this started.
Some continue to drive with the same intimidating manner as they do on the motorway. Coming up way too close from behind when you’re doing the maximum speed limit as if you were holding them up, and leaving the roundabout near Lobres from the inside lane, something you should never do. Pig headedness personified.
Yesterday I had to put the hazzard warning lights on twice coming up from “Breña Salo” to Izbor because of tailgating idiots. On the way down, two cars overtook me just before the Curva Muy Peligrosa where you can’t overtake.
That’s something I recommend to stop tailgating. When they get so close that all you can see in the mirror is their aggressive mush, put the hazard warning lights on and take your foot off the gas and they will drop back.
As for the bridge, when they were building it, it collapsed and was left hanging for months, a section of twisted blue metal.
But at least this time, residents of Izbor can still turn left at the tunnel to access the town, unlike last time when we had to continue all the way up to the roundabout at Beznar and come back down.
I would also point out that the ayuntamiento have not given any information about this to anyone here. There are locals who didn’t even know about this.” – Gary

Reader’s comment: “I’m sorry, I still get confused by the roundabout rules here. The traffic people a while ago upgraded the rules to those that we use in the UK, except of course, driving on the Spanish side.

Anyway they stated that like in the UK, give way to traffic already on the roundabout! Enter when clear! Outside lane for turning right or going straight ahead. If two lanes, inside lane for also going straight ahead, if lane is clear and use of indicators. Inside lane for turning right onto exit road. Or third exit, with indicator before getting into the exit point of the third exit. Inside lane again, use of indicators if doing a full circle, going into exit road at forth exit.

Many still just go around on the outside lane at every exit. Indicators not necessary. So I guess just go with the flow?” – PB Storey

Reader’s comment: “as a non driver i can see things on the roads that drivers cant see its abit shit once youve seen it a few times. viva blood puddin” – Warren