Initiatives to improve road infrastructure
The Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, has confirmed that the project to add a third lane to the section of the AP-7 that connects l’Hospitalet de l’Infant with Amposta is in the drafting phase. This improvement, with a planned budget of 162 million euros, seeks not only to increase the capacity of the road, but also to improve road safety.
Recent challenges and measures to be implemented
ERC senator Laura Castel asked the minister questions about the recent delays that affected many drivers during a tragic incident on the AP-7, where more than 14 hours of queues were recorded. Puente defended that there is a program of actions designed to address congestion problems on this road, as well as on the AP-2, with a total investment of 250 million euros that will be deployed until 2031.
Emergency action protocol
In response to Castel’s concerns, Puente pointed out that the Government is working on a protocol designed to manage emergency situations such as the one experienced recently, with the aim of optimizing the response to incidents that can cause massive detentions.
Political reactions and proposals to improve security
Castel expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the third lane project, although he urged a rapid specification of the execution schedule. He also proposed the need to improve the N-340 road, with the intention of converting it into a dual carriageway, taking into account that the A-7 ends in Hospitalet de l’Infant.
Changes in mobility habits
Puente commented that the removal of tolls on 463 kilometers of highways in Catalonia has meant a significant change in citizens’ mobility habits. This has led to the need to review the current distribution of traffic and adapt infrastructures accordingly.
The future of the AP-7: intelligent systems and signaling
To deal with traffic management, which is not directly the Ministry’s responsibility, Puente highlighted that the Generalitat is improving action protocols. In addition, it is planned to implement an intelligent signaling system between Hospitalet and l’Ampolla, which will adjust the maximum speed according to traffic conditions and allow heavy vehicles to overtake when necessary.
With these initiatives, the Government seeks not only to solve immediate congestion problems, but also to establish a safer and more efficient road infrastructure for the future.
