The A-3, one of main arteries in Spain that connect Madrid to Valenciais in critical condition after the passage of the DANA (Isolated High Level Depression) which hit the Valencian Community this week and has already caused at least 155 deaths.
The intense rains and hurricane winds recorded in the region of Utiel, Requena, Buñol and Chiva caused significant damage to infrastructure, essential to the national economy, as it is a vital artery for the transport of goods between the Mediterranean coast and the center and north of the country.
The highway remains closed towards Valencia. In the direction of Madrid, only one lane has been authorized. The priority now is to completely remove the mud and destroyed cars, which in places form mountains and obstruct traffic.
The Central Administration is working to restore traffic “in a few days”, as sources from the Ministry of Transport confirmed to EL ESPAÑOL.
But the situation remains complicated. Of course, it is planned to be open to traffic. before the A-7 (the Mediterranean highway which goes from Algeciras to Barcelona and crosses the entire Valencian Community), which is even more degraded.
DANA destroyed Valencia’s connectivity. “Alternative routes are being established so that container transport is affected as little as possible,” he said when interviewed by this newspaper. Salvador Navarropresident of the Valencian Business Confederation (CEV).
One of these alternative routes is to take the highway from Valencia to Barcelona and Sagunto taking a detour via the A-23. But since Thursday this road is no longer safe becausearound 400 Trucks remained stuck on the Teruel highway because of the rains, waiting to get back on the road.
The second option for light trucks is to take the El Saler highway, CV-500, to the El Palmar roundabout. From there, look for the exit for Sueca to join the A-7 again and, via Almansa, continue towards Madrid.
The A-3 connects Madrid and Valencia, facilitating the movement of goods and services between Spain’s first and third largest cities. In addition, the road crosses large industrial zones, such as those of Riba-roja, Cheste and Loriguillawhich include many companies and polygons.
Location of the A-3 near Chiva. EE
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This Thursday, it was partially reopened to traffic, although the recommendation remains to avoid driving in the province. Cars destroyed by the worst DANA in our country’s history continue to pile up on the sides of the roads.
Right now, on this road that connects Madrid to Valencia You can drive in one lane. The adaptation work will last a few more days, even if we plan to be able to recover it before the A-7, according to Ministry sources.
Precisely the Minister of Transport, Oscar Puenteduring a press conference to assess the state of the roads, admitted that the damage on the A-3 is “enormous”. In this regard, he explained that the priority is to remove hundreds of stacked and abandoned passenger cars.
According to Puente, this work, led by the Ministries of Interior and Defense, is not easy, because there are still bodies inside some vehicles.
Map of the roads concerned. EE
The meteorological disaster which left 155 dead, according to the latest official data from the Generalitat Valenciana, touched 80 kilometers of the province’s road network.
The reopening of the A-7 or Mediterranean motorway It will take much longer, due to a collapsed bridge. Its replacement, according to ministry calculations, will take months. Around 100,000 vehicles travel on this road daily, so the effects on mobility are “huge”.
This highway suffered damage throughout 15 kilometersespecially in the bypass from Valencia and Quart de Poblet to Silla. In addition to these two main highways, the province was greatly affected. V-30 and V-31 and the national N-330, with the disappearance of the road at kilometers 230 and 236. In addition, it has a collapsed bridge at 194.
Regardless, the official recommendation is to avoid travelingsince the priority is to continue the search for missing people and the cleaning and reconstruction of the municipalities affected by DANA.
AVEs
The high-speed rail situation also presents black spots that prevent traffic between Madrid and Valencia.
There are two in particular which show very significant damage: the chiva and that of Torrent. Among the former, more than a kilometer of infrastructure has completely collapsed and among the latter, nearly three are completely flooded.
Puente said service cannot be restored for the next two or three weeks.
