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Work on fourth lane for Cartagena motorway progresses despite delays
The Cartagena to Alcantarilla stretch will get an extra lane but completion is now delayed until summer 2027
Plans to add a fourth lane to a busy section of the A-30 motorway from southern Murcia towards Cartagena have moved forward with the appointment of a construction supervisor, although frustratingly the project is already running three months behind schedule.
The Ministry of Transport has awarded a €1.2m contract to a joint venture between Barcelona-based Socotec Engineering Solutions Spain and Madrid's Alauda Ingeniería to oversee the work. The two companies beat 11 other bidders to win the technical assistance and monitoring role for the 18-month construction period.
The main contract was handed to Madrid construction firm Adiante Infraestructuras in December for €11.8m. The work will add a fourth lane along a 1.2km stretch of the motorway, now called the MU-33, between kilometres 144.9 and 146.1 near the junction with the MU-30 Reguerón motorway towards Alcantarilla.
The new lane is designed to act as a holding area for vehicles wanting to exit onto the MU-30, preventing queues from disrupting the flow of long-distance traffic on the three existing Cartagena-bound lanes.
According to the ministry, the expansion will also improve speeds on the branch road and boost safety in an area that experiences heavy congestion, particularly during rush hour.
The work was originally due to finish in March 2027 but delays mean completion is now expected sometime next summer. The project also includes widening an existing overpass over Salabosque Road and installing noise barriers.
Around 80 plots of land covering more than 36,200 square metres will be affected by the expansion, and the State Highways Authority has already contacted property owners about compensation and occupation of their land.
The project attracted significant interest when it went to tender last May, with 28 construction companies initially bidding for the work.
Image: Delegación del Gobierno
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