Police Announce Enhanced Traffic Surveillance for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Holiday
A large number of pilgrims is expected in the Karlovac County area, with police warning of congestion and urging caution.
A large number of pilgrims is expected in the Karlovac County area, with police warning of congestion and urging caution.
The Karlovac Police Department has warned the public of increased traffic and announced enhanced surveillance ahead of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary holiday, celebrated on Saturday, August 15, 2026. In a statement carried by the Kaportal portal, all road users are urged to exercise patience and strictly adhere to regulations. In addition to the Karlovac County area, special measures are also being introduced in Rijeka, where temporary traffic re-routing will be in effect in Trsat.
In the area covered by the Karlovac Police Department, a large number of faithful are expected to make pilgrimages to local Marian shrines. Particularly large processions are announced for Kamensko, Novigrad na Dobri, Cetingrad, and Oštarije. Pilgrims will set out for the shrines as early as the morning hours, using private cars, buses, or on foot, with the return expected during the afternoon. As a result, traffic will be increased on all approach roads.
The police particularly warn drivers to watch for pedestrians who will be walking at night and in the early morning hours. Pedestrians are advised to walk on the sidewalk or along the far edge of the road and to be visible with lights or reflective gear. The police state: "We warn drivers to pay attention to pedestrians who will be walking at night and early in the morning, and we recommend that pedestrians adhere to traffic rules (walking on the sidewalk or along the edge of the road), be visible with lights or reflective material, and wear reflective vests so that drivers can spot them more easily (in accordance with the Road Traffic Safety Act)."
As the holiday falls on a Saturday, many believers will set off as early as Friday evening, which will also increase traffic on highways. The police therefore appeal to drivers to be patient and to follow all traffic rules. "We call on drivers and all road users to be patient and to consistently comply with regulations, from speed limits, seat belt use, not using mobile phones, to completely abstaining from alcohol," the police state. They add that driving on the hard shoulder is strictly prohibited, a safe distance from the vehicle ahead must be maintained, and the left lane of the highway is reserved exclusively for overtaking.
On the holiday itself and the day before, police officers will carry out enhanced preventive and repressive activities to ensure the safety of all participants. "The implementation of the planned measures will involve the largest possible number of police officers, who will be visibly present on the roads, especially on all routes leading to Marian shrines," the statement highlights.
In Rijeka, in the Trsat area, special traffic regulations will be introduced for the Assumption. From 5:30 AM to 10 PM, traffic will be banned on Šetalište Joakima Rakovca, Radićeva Street, Ulica fra Serafina Schona, part of Ulica Drage Šćitara, Frankopanski Square, and part of Ulica Slavka Krautzeka. From 4 PM, access to the Shrine of Our Lady of Trsat will be possible via Mihanovićeva - Marohnićeva - Drage Šćitara - fra Serafina Schona. The day before the holiday, August 14, from 12 PM, Trg Viktora Bubnja will be closed to all traffic.
The restrictions do not apply to public city buses, official and emergency vehicles, residents' vehicles, vehicles with accessibility permits, and vehicles with passes for the Shrine of Our Lady of Trsat. Vehicles with passes will be allowed to park only at the Fortica parking lot, near the Memorial Ossuary.
The City of Rijeka recommends that visitors use public transport. Bus lines 2 and 8, which run to Trsat, will be free on the holiday itself and will operate on a weekday schedule. Additional trips from Žabica will be added as needed. The Autotrolej stop on Frankopanski Square will be suspended from 6 AM to 10 PM, with passenger boarding and alighting taking place at Trg Viktora Bubnja. Taxis will only be allowed to operate in the open traffic zone, with passenger drop-off at "Pariz," at Vojak near the post office, and on Mihanovićeva Street near "Belega."
The traffic situation will be further affected by water infrastructure works on Mihanovićeva Street and Ulica Tome Strižića near KBC Sušak, which will divert traffic to alternative routes. Additionally, on Krimeja, at Ulica Eugena Kumičića, there is an active construction site as part of the Aglomeration project, with temporary traffic regulation and one-way traffic controlled by traffic lights.
