Stunning new SE-40 bridge to act as ringroad around Seville stated to open in 2029
Price tag rises to nearly €700 million as plans for landmark crossing are revealed
The Spanish government has officially revealed the proposed route for a long-awaited bridge over the Guadalquivir River, which will form part of the SE-40 ring road. It is now expected to open in 2029 and will cost close to €700 million.The striking cable-stayed structure will connect Dos Hermanas with Palomares del Río and Coria del Río, helping to ease congestion on the existing SE-30 by accommodating up to 2,800 vehicles an hour, according to the Ministry of Transport. Plans show it will have four lanes in each direction, along with a wide pedestrian path and two-way cycle lane across a deck measuring over 42 metres wide.
The final design is expected to include an impressive clearance height of 70.8 metres — much taller than the Centenario Bridge, which aligns with the requirements from the Port Authority. With the main span of 360 metres, it’s set to be one of the largest on Spain’s road network.
The bridge has been a hot topic in the region for years, after the government chose it over two previously proposed tunnel options. Whilst it was originally favoured for being cheaper and quicker to build, the bridge now carries an estimated base budget of €688.1 million including VAT — significantly more than the €458 million cost initially quoted when it was first announced.
Even so, it's still less than the projected €1 to 1.8 billion for the tunnel alternatives. Officials say the bridge also allows things to move along faster and with fewer technical uncertainties.
The updated route plan was published on Tuesday April 8 in both the Official State Gazette and Seville’s Provincial Gazette. It now enters a 30-working-day public consultation period. Expropriations will affect parts of Seville city, Palomares del Río, La Puebla del Río, Dos Hermanas, Coria del Río and Almensilla.
The Ministry describes the new viaduct as "the most important bridge built by the General Directorate of Highways in the last two decades," with construction declared "urgent" in order to push forward long-awaited progress on the SE-40 project.Currently, five sections of the SE-40 are open, totalling 38 kilometres - around half of the planned 77 km ring road. Full completion is not expected until at least 2030.
In a separate announcement, the Council of Ministers has also approved a tender worth over €88 million for a new 4-km section between Espartinas and Valencina de la Concepción, including a viaduct over the Río Pudio and several other infrastructure features.
That follows the recent awarding of the neighbouring section between Valencina and Salteras for €116.4 million, with a projected construction time of four years.
Government officials say these developments underline the administration’s "unquestionable commitment" to finally completing the long-planned bypass around Seville.
Images: Ministry of Transport
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