Improvements on the Road Access to the Maritime Port of Bilbao and Its Connectivity with Other Critical Infrastructures in the Biscay Region: 22-ES-TM-SAFEROAD2PORT

Programme(s): Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)

Topic(s): CEF-T-2022-MILMOB-WORKS

Type of action: CEF Infrastructure Projects

Project ID: 101113142

Objective: The SAFEROAD2PORT is part of a global project, which aims to improve the road in the N-637 (TXORIERRI corridor) and its connection to the core port of Bilbao, Spain. The port has 2 terminals for civil use (a freight terminal and a passengers’ terminal), which currently face a very high road traffic from/to the TEN-T core network (around 1.4 million trucks/year). At the same time Bilbao's maritime port is a strategic infrastructure for military use, as it has been used as departing/reception point for the military supply to ports in north of Europe (Atlantic and North/Baltic Seas). The improvement of the road accesses to the maritime port of Bilbao is considered as a prioririty for the Biscay region, as it will reduce congestion, minimise the impact of heavy traffic flows in the metropolitan area of Bilbao and improve the connectivity with other critical infrastructures (portroad-airport). The SAFEROAD2PORT project will contribute to the upgrade of the road access to the Bilbao port, along the N-637 road, in the section between Cruces junction and Rontegi bridge, which is one of the most congested road sections in Biscay’s road network, affecting not only long distance transport services to the maritime port, but also private and public transport services (estimation of at least 15,000 vehicles/h and >35,000 people affected each day at peak hours). In particular, the project will improve the weaving segments by the reconfiguration of road accesses. The project works are split into two phases: - Phase 1: Cruces-Rontegi (traffic from the port of Bilbao) consists of an expansion of the road platform to provide a greater length to the convergence of traffic coming from the A-8 motorway, while segregating/separating the braiding with vehicles coming from Cruces and leaving for Barakaldo and in this way providing greater road safety. - Phase 2: Rontegi- Cruces (traffic to the port of Bilbao) consists of the expansion of the structure deck, obtaining four lanes for the trucks (instead of current three) in order to improve traffic flow in the Santander-Bilbao divergence. The planned works will be aligned with the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1328 of 10/08/2021 on infrastructure requirements for dual use. Thus, these works will ensure the reduction of bottlenecks and the safe and smooth transit of both civil and military heavy vehicles to/from the maritime port of Bilbao.