The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has formalized for 16 million euros (VAT included) a contract for the execution of various conservation and exploitation operations on state roads in Cantabria. The corresponding announcement will soon be published in the Official State Gazette (BOE).
The contract covers a total of 147,675 km, which includes 108,225 km of motorways, and has a duration of three years, with the possibility of extension for another two years, plus an additional extension of nine months. It is part of the Ministry ' s road maintenance and operation programme, which makes it possible to maintain traffic on the State Road Network (RCE) so that it is accessible under appropriate conditions to all citizens.
The indicated sector is 1, which includes the following roads:
Motorway A-8, in several sections between the kilometer 139,350 and the 198.
· Highway N-629, between kilometer 48 and 87,450
· N-629a road, between 72,740 km and 73,525 km
· N-634 road, in several sections between kilometer 136,130 and 198,800.
In addition, this contract incorporates a specific project of works necessary to improve the functionality of the track, in particular, the replacement of the system of containment of the right margin of the A-8 motorway at km 143.
Conservation model characteristics
The model of mixed contracts (services and works) for the execution of conservation and exploitation operations 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: schedule of status information and programming, operating aid and road safety studies and maintenance of road elements with adequate levels of quality.
In addition, within the framework of the strategy of reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency, a series of innovations have been introduced in the specifications of these contracts:
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 vehicles.
Criteria relating to carbon footprint mitigation and compensation are included in contracts tendered after 2023. Thus, companies will be able to include as a punctuable improvement in their offers the presentation of a decarbonization plan with the purpose of reaching the carbon neutral balance within five years from the beginning of the contract. The compensation can be done through the absorption projects registered in the carbon footprint, compensation and carbon dioxide absorption projects of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge or through other options.
The aim is to reduce the 71,640 tonnes of CO2 per year generated by the regular operation and maintenance and operation of the State Road Network and to reinforce the orientation towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to which the Ministry is committed.