The Council of Ministers, at its meeting today and on the proposal of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (Mitma), has authorized the tender of a contract for the execution of various conservation and exploitation operations on state roads in Cantabria, for an estimated value of 29.47 million euros (VAT not included). The duration is three years, with the possibility of a first extension of two years and an additional one of a maximum of nine months.
Within the framework of the strategy of reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency, the Ministry has included objectives of mitigation and compensation of the carbon footprint in the tender documents of the conservation and exploitation contracts (COEX) of the State Road Network, which means that companies must include in their offers the calculation of the carbon footprint that they will generate during the execution of the contract in each stretch of the road.
They will also commit to presenting a decarbonization plan in the first six months of the contract with reduction and emissions compensation measures to achieve a carbon neutral balance. This plan will also be included within the valuation criteria.
The aim is to reduce CO2 by 71,640 tons per year, which, according to calculations made by the General Directorate of Roads, generates the regular operation and maintenance and operation of the State Road Network and reinforces the orientation towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to which Mitma is committed.
This contract authorized today, aimed at the maintenance and conservation of 147,675 km of which 108,225 km are motorways, is part of the Mitma road conservation and exploitation program, which allows the road to be maintained in the State Road Network so that it is accessible in suitable conditions for all citizens.
The indicated sector is 1, which includes the following roads:
A-8 motorway, several sections:
· Km 139,350 – Km 140,450
· Km 140,450 – Km 141,202
· Km 141,202 – Km 144,380
· Km 144,380 – Km 146,450
· Km 146,450 – Km 147,430
· Km 147,430 – Km 147,790
· Km 147,790 – Km 148,943
· Km 148,943 – Km 158,600
· Km 158,600 – Km 159,201
· Km 159,201 – Km 160,613
· Km 160,613 – Km 162,665
· Km 162,665 – Km 164,667
· Km 164,667 – Km 165,400
· Km 165,400 – Km 167,750
· Km 167,750 – Km 168,588
· Km 168,588 – Km 169,150
· Km 169,150 – Km 171,070
· Km 171,070 – Km 174,741
· Km 174,741 – Km 175,202
· Km 175,202 – Km 177,258
· Km 177,258 – Km 178,428
· Km 178,428 – Km 178,625
· Km 178,625 – Km 179,638
· Km 179,638 – Km 180,134
· Km 180,134 – Km 80,720
· Km 180,720 – Km 180,950
· Km 180,950 – Km 181,640
· Km 181,640 – Km 182,106
· Km 182,106 – Km 184,920
· Km 184,920 – Km 185,087
· Km 185,087 – Km 193,000
· Km 193,000 – Km 195,000
· Km 195,000 – Km 197,360
· Km 197,360 – km 198,000
Route N-629:
· Km 48,000 – Km 87,450
Route N-629a:
· Km 72,740 – Km 73,525
N-634 road, several sections:
· Km 136,130 – Km 142,300
· Km 148,940 – Km 162,630
· Km 167,270 – Km 169,150
· Km 171,100 – Km 171,280
· Km 171,930 – Km 198,800
In addition, this contract incorporates a specific project of works necessary to improve the functionality of the track:
- Replacement of the containment system of the right margin of the A-8 motorway in the P.K. 143. Cantabria.
Conservation model characteristics
The new model of mixed contracts (services and works) for the execution of conservation and exploitation operations in the State Road Network aims to offer a comprehensive service of mobility to the user, improve the state of the road and network and optimize public resources.
Through them, works are carried out to help the roads and ordinary conservation of the roads to allow the infrastructure and its functional elements to have the best possible conditions of circulation and safety. It includes actions such as: status information and programming agenda, operating aid and road safety studies, and maintenance of road elements with adequate levels of quality.
Last year, energy efficiency measures were incorporated into service facilities, such as self-consumption, renewable heating systems, energy saving measures in lighting or the implementation of electric motor vehicles.
As for the criteria relating to the mitigation and compensation of the carbon footprint now introduced in the specifications, the objective is for the awarding companies to reach the carbon neutral balance within 5 years from the start of the contract. The compensation can be done through the absorption projects registered in the Carbon Footprint, Compensation and Carbon Dioxide Absorption Projects, under the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, or through other options.