Pilar de la Horadada AP-7 tunnel upgrade completed after €3.5 million investment
Energy efficient lighting and new safety systems have been installed on the busy Murcia-Alicante border road
Spain’s Ministry of Transport has completed a major programme of upgrade works at the Pilar de la Horadada tunnel on the AP-7 motorway, following an investment of €3.5 million funded through the European Union’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Facility.
The tunnel, which lies on the Crevillente to Cartagena stretch of the AP-7 in the province of Alicante, has undergone extensive safety and energy efficiency improvements since a fatal accident forced it to be completely shut down during the summer. The project, which includes the installation of an intelligent LED lighting management system, aims to improve safety while reducing energy consumption.
“This action is a clear example of how European funds from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan translate into real improvements for citizens, reinforcing road safety and committing to more sustainable and efficient infrastructure in the province of Alicante,” highlighted local government delegate Juan Antonio Nieves.
The tunnel is 794 metres long and has been in operation since 2001. It’s located between the town centre of Pilar de la Horadada and the outlying area of Torre de la Horadada, and is used by around 28,000 vehicles every day.
According to Mr Nieves, “the modernisation of this tunnel not only increases safety standards for the thousands of drivers who use it daily, but also contributes to reducing energy consumption and emissions associated with its operation.”
The completed works have equipped the tunnel with updated systems designed to ensure a high level of safety for drivers while significantly improving energy efficiency. These include a new power supply, intelligent lighting regulation and control, upgraded evacuation signage, a public address system and a closed circuit television network incorporating a new Automatic Incident Detection system.
Further improvements include new fibre optic communications, speed limit control panels, tunnel entrance barriers and upgrades to the hydrant network. Two independent pressurised vestibules have also been constructed, one in each of the existing emergency galleries, along with two underground fire protection tanks, each with a capacity of 60 cubic metres.
Although the main construction phase is now complete, work will continue on the integration, testing and verification of the new systems. This final phase is scheduled to run until January 31, 2026.
Mr Nieves said the completed upgrade places the tunnel among the most advanced of its kind:
“The incorporation of LED technology and intelligent control systems places this infrastructure at the most advanced European standards, reinforcing the Government's commitment to safe and sustainable mobility.”
Image: Ayuntamiento de Pilar de la Horadada
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