Adif High Speed has completed the excavation in the advance phase of the Artzareta tunnel, one of the longest of the line between Castejón and Pamplona, with a length of 658 meters, included in the Tafalla–Campanas section of the high-speed connection to the Foral Community of Navarre.
The route between Tafalla and Campanas, in whose platform works more than 238 million euros are invested, runs along 15 km through the municipal terms of Tafalla, Pueyo, Garínoain, Barásoain, Tirapu, Biurrun-Olcoz and Tiebas-Muruarte de Reta.
In the excavation of Artzareta, mechanical means are used, and it is executed in two phases, a first in advance of the upper part or vault, with the subsequent support by trusses (steel arches), projected concrete and bolts, to culminate with the excavation of the lower area of the tunnel.
This section also excavates the tunnel of La Catedral of 634 meters in length, which has reached 41% of the works in the advance phase. The route also includes the construction of the Murugain tunnel (506 meters), in which the docks on both sides are being executed.
This route also highlights the construction of the viaduct on the Arroyo de la Majada, 546 meters long, in which work is being carried out for the construction of the 14 stacks and stirrups on which the structure rests.
In addition, 60% of the dismounts and a total of 11 transversal drainage works have already been carried out in the Tafalla–Campanas section. Likewise, the construction of a train overtaking and parking station (PAET) in Garínoain is contemplated, a technical installation that provides optimal operability and flexibility in the management of railway circulation.
The works contract was awarded to the UTE formed by the companies: S.A.de Works and Services, Copasa, Bridges and Roads Infrastructures, S.L., Constructora San José, S.A. and Lurpelan Turnnelling, S.A.
AV rail connection in Navarre
The high-speed connection to Navarre is part of the Atlantic Corridor and is also integrated into the Cantabrian-Mediterranean corridor, a key element in the connection of the trans-European corridors (Atlantic and Mediterranean). Through the Basque Country, it will have continuity towards the French border, also joining several logistics nodes of the first order.
At present, all the platform works of the high-speed line between Castejón and Campanas are completed or under way. For its part, the Campanas-Esquíroz section will be developed according to the Informative Study of the railway network of the region of Pamplona.
While the Cantabrian-Mediterranean corridor is being completed, and in order to put the high-speed connection into service as soon as possible, Adif Alta Pyrenees is drafting the projects, basic and construction, of the railway connection of the LAV Castejón-Pamplona with the conventional railway line Casetas-Bilbao in the vicinity of Castejón de Ebro.
These projects will define the infrastructure and road works necessary for this temporary connection of about 3 kilometers with the aim of being able to advance the implementation of the stretch between Pamplona and Castejón, while the Castejón-Zaragoza stretch is developed.
All these actions contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), which has among its goals the development of reliable, sustainable, resilient and quality infrastructures.
European funding
The works on the Tafalla–Campanas section are funded by the European Union through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. Funded by the European Union-NextGenerationEU.