The Ministry of Transport has tendered for 153.6 million euros the Jaca bypass, the last major political and technical obstacle to completing the highway connection between Pamplona and the corridor towards Catalonia. With this work unblocked after years of neighborhood opposition, Aragon is about to complete its alternative route to the Ebro through the Pyrenees.
Why it is important. For decades, the Jaca variant has been the most complicated link in this infrastructure. Much of the municipality was opposed to the project due to the works, noise and associated inconvenience, not without reason. In this aspect, its tender represents having removed the legal and social obstacle that was holding back the project. From now on, it’s all about building.
Connections. The variant consists of a new 8 kilometer stretch which will bypass the city of Jaca and connect the A-21 (Pyrenees highway) with the A-23 (Mudéjar highway). This section will divert the medium and long-distance traffic that currently crosses the N-330a and N-240 highways through the center of Jaca, where the speed is limited to 50 km/h and there are numerous intersections and pedestrian crossings.
Image: Ministry of Transport
In detail. The work contemplate two roads with two lanes separated by a median of variable width, three main interchanges (Jaca East, North and West), three viaducts, five overpasses and a 200-meter false tunnel in the hospital area. According to the Ministry of Transport, the project includes environmental integration measures such as the revegetation of slopes, correction of the barrier effect with special attention to the Camino de Santiago, hunting fencing to prevent access by fauna and protection against noise pollution.
The fitting of the puzzle. With the Jaca variant tendered, Aragón has practically resolved its Pyrenean corridor. In the coming months, the 8.7 kilometers that link Sabiñánigo Este with Sabiñánigo Oeste will be inaugurated, and in 2026 they should open another 11 kilometers between Lanave and Sabiñánigo. Only a section of about 12 kilometers will remain pending between Puente de la Reina in Jaca and the A-21 in Navarra, for which the drafting of the project has already been awarded, although the works will not begin before 2030, according to they count from 20 Minutes.
Between the lines. This axis formed by the A-21, A-23 and A-22 (Huesca-Lleida) will become a strategic alternative to the Ebro corridorwhich is usually saturated along the route between Navarra, Aragon and Catalonia. In this sense, the project will aim to improve the territorial structure of Aragon and reduce the pressure on other roads at critical times, such as ski season weekends or holiday long weekends, which are times when kilometer delays are usually recorded in the area.
And now what. The execution time for the Jaca variant will depend on the award and the pace of work, but the fact that there is already a tender is a relief for all those who were looking for such a connection. After completing this section and the rest that remain pending in the Sabiñánigo area, the Aragonese Pyrenean project will practically materialize, waiting only for the link with Navarra.
Cover image | Ministry of Transport
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