The subdelegate of the Government in Lugo, Isabel Rodríguez, today highlighted in Quiroga the strong commitment of the Government to improve the conditions of security and mobility in the State Road Network, with a total investment of 20.8 million euros of the Recovery Plan for a renewal and integral modernization of several tunnels in the La-6 and the N-120, as it passes through the province. “An economic support that demonstrates both the government’s commitment to Lugo and to the province’s road infrastructure,” stressed the subdelegate during a visit this morning to the Montefurado tunnel to supervise the work carried out by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda.
The deputy delegate, accompanied by the head of the Scaffolding Unit in the province, Beatriz González de el Riego, reported that in order to adapt the tunnels to European regulations, the Mitma will operate in the tunnels of Neira, San Pedro, Doncos and Cereixal, with an investment of 10.6 million euros; and has planned to begin soon the improvements in the Pedrafita, Trabadelo, La Escrita and Villafranca tunnels of the same motorway, in addition to the works already completed in the Montefurado tunnel, in the N-120 euros, with a budget of 10.2 million.
Isabel Rodríguez stressed that these are two projects of great importance that involve “improving our communications and providing them with greater security, guaranteeing the protection of the thousands of users who circulate on these roads and enhancing the capacity for prevention and response to emergency situations.” In this line, he recalled the more than 100 million euros that the Government of Pedro Sánchez invested the last five years to the conservation of the State Network of Scaffolding in the province. “It represents an average investment of more than 132,000 euros per kilometer,” said the deputy delegate, who stressed that initiatives such as this show the full involvement of the Central Executive with Lugo.
In relation to this, it advanced that the Government allocates a total of 17.7 million euros this year for the maintenance and improvement of state road safety in Lugo. With these funds, actions will be carried out to improve the firmness, intersections, signage, beaconing, drainage and structures, as well as the services of conservation and common exploitation of roads.
In this regard, the subdelegate stressed that road safety is a priority for the Government of Spain, and for “that makes an important effort to allocate resources to maintain state roads in perfect conditions for road users.”
Montefurado Tunnel
During the visit, Isabel Rodríguez was able to check the result of the investments of the Mitma in the Montefurado tunnel, in the N-120, located in the city of Q uiroga. The improvements consisted in the renovation of the normal lighting and traffic light system, security and emergency; the provision of a new Uninterrupted Power Supply System (UPS); installation of multipurpose dust extinguishers and new light-resistant wiring; horizontal and vertical signage in the exits and in the track equipment, as well as the restoration of the cannelloni responsible for collecting the water leaks of the structure, among other actions.
Adapt tunnels to European standards
This work in the La-6 and N-120 falls within the framework of the 357 million euros of the Recovery Plan that the Government invests to adapt the tunnels to European regulations and to enhance the protection of fauna and vulnerable users. Specifically, they are aimed at adapting these infrastructures to the safety and road safety requirements established in Royal Decree 635/2006, of 26 May, as a result of the transposition of Directive 2004/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 29 April 2004.
Although the tunnels currently have favourable operating conditions, it is necessary to carry out these works in order to update their facilities. Thus, among other actions, improvements will be promoted in emergency exits, signaling and beaconing, lighting, ventilation, electrical installation, drainage, fire protection, communication or traffic management, etc.