The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has awarded 13.3 million euros (VAT included) to the works to adapt the N-611 and N-623 roads to the transit of pedestrians and bicycles as they pass through Santander, thus fulfilling the commitment of the minister, Óscar Puente, on his visit to the Cantabrian capital last March.
The delegate of the Government in Cantabria, Eugenia Gómez de Diego, stressed that this action will mean "a significant improvement of the urban fabric of Santander and, especially, for the neighbors of the neighborhoods through which these roads run." "This project will not only improve mobility, but also make your environment safer, more accessible and more friendly for everyone," he said.
According to Gómez de Diego, residents of areas such as Cuatro Caminos, Peñacastillo, Campogiro or Valdecilla, among others, will see how their neighborhoods "gain in urban quality" and become "more modern and attractive" environments. "The new wider sidewalks, 7.4 kilometers of bike lanes connected to the existing network, the renovated furniture and the new lighting will make these spaces more comfortable and functional for both pedestrians and cyclists." In addition, the installation of trees and the construction of gazebos will provide greater security and improve the coexistence between different forms of mobility, added Gómez de Diego.
"With this new investment, one more, the Government of Spain continues to demonstrate its commitment to Cantabria and Santander's neighbors, while strengthening its commitment to sustainable mobility, road safety and the quality of life of its neighbors," said the delegate.
Description of the works
The objective is to humanize the city’s crossings to adapt them to the urban fabric and promote active, sustainable and safe mobility with the construction of bike lanes and sidewalks to make it more friendly, accessible and improve its functionality.
The Ministry has improved the project that will finally be implemented. In particular, the area on which action is going to be taken has been expanded, from 6.3 km to 8.8 km (5.05 km on the N-611 and 3.73 km on the N-623), it has been approved to build more kilometers of lanes until adding a 7.4 km route that connects with the infrastructure already operational, and the parking of Eduardo García del Río street has been changed to improve the safety of cyclists. The improvements adopted have been discussed with the City of Santander and have also been studied during the public hearing of the project. The planned investment has also been increased, from 11.8 million euros to 13.3 million euros for which the works are finally tendered.
Specifically, the urban environment of the N-611 roads will be transformed, from the roundabout of the Valdecilla exchanger to the limit of the municipal term with Santa Cruz de Bezana, between km 203,575 and 208,632; and the N-623, from the roundabout of Cuatro Caminos to the limit with the municipal term of Camargo, between km 148,660 and 152,388).
Job Features
The project will undertake the following work in the sections mentioned:
· Widening of sidewalks and/or execution of new ones.
· The installation of new urban furniture and tree species.
· The adequacy and improvement of the lighting efficiency of the track.
· The construction of 7.4 km of new bike lanes along both roads (2.6 km on the N-623 and 4.8 km on the N-611), to connect the new infrastructure to the network of existing and planned bike lanes within the municipality of Santander.
· Construction of roundabouts to improve the safety of the users of both roads and adjacent urban roads.
· A new lighting will be provided for all the glorietas designed and the adaptation of the semaphorization system to the new technologies according to the specifications of the City Council.
This action is in line with the State Bicycle Strategy led by this Ministry. The corresponding announcement will soon be published in the Official State Gazette.
Once the works are finished, the section will be ceded to the City of Santander according to the current regulations.