Date Published: 11/07/2025

Two sections of Murcia's Northwest Arc now open to traffic

The long-awaited bypass is expected to significantly ease congestion in the Region, though full completion is still pending

Two key sections of the Northwest Arc bypass road in the Region of Murcia have officially opened this week, marking a major step towards improving regional traffic flow.

The new infrastructure, which is part of the A-30 corridor, aims to reduce congestion on some of the area’s busiest routes, including the Western Ring Road of Murcia.

Spain’s Minister for Transport Óscar Puente and regional president Fernando López Miras met near the Murcia town of Archena to inaugurate the two new stretches of road, totalling 14 kilometres out of the planned 22. The bypass has been under construction since 2019 and is expected to cost around €200 million once fully complete.

The first open section runs for 4.3 kilometres from the A-30 motorway to the MU-533 near Ceutí. The second is nearly 10 kilometres long and connects with the RM-B37 near Las Torres de Cotillas.

These two new links are already expected to relieve traffic in Archena, Lorquí, Ceutí, Alguazas, Las Torres de Cotillas and Murcia city, particularly for heavy goods vehicles.

However, the final and most complex section – the link near Alcantarilla, which will connect with the A-7 and RM-15 – is still under construction.

This part includes multi-level junctions and is vital to fully redirecting long-distance traffic away from Murcia city. It is expected to be completed by the end of this year or early 2026.

Once fully operational, the Northwest Arc should remove up to 20,000 vehicles a day from the Western Ring Road, easing pressure on the 32-kilometre stretch currently used by 111,000 vehicles daily. The road will also form part of a more direct inland route from Valencia to Andalusia, via the A-33.

Officials are also considering new names for several highways around Murcia once the Arc is finished, with the aim of simplifying route numbering across the region.

Image: Ministerio de Transportes y Movilidad Sostenible