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Date Published: 07/11/2024

Driving and travel news: Valencia reopens key roads after devastating storm damage

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Urgent repairs are progressing but several major routes remain closed, as do public transport links

Driving and travel news: Valencia reopens key roads after devastating storm damage

Efforts to reopen critical roadways in Valencia continue as the Generalitat Valenciana pushes forward with repairs to the severely damaged infrastructure.

Of the 18 regional roads that suffered major damage from last week’s torrential DANA storm, 11 have now been reopened, though significant repair challenges remain.

The storm’s impact was catastrophic, destroying bridges and sections of major roads that will require substantial rebuilding efforts.

“This is a crisis of unprecedented proportions,” stated Vicente Martínez Mus, the Councillor for the Environment, Infrastructures and Territory. At a press briefing, he provided an update on the ongoing reconstruction work and acknowledged the swift response from the regional government.

“We’ve worked tirelessly to attend to the emergency while also setting the groundwork for a comprehensive recovery,” he said.

Since the storm struck over a week ago, emergency contracts were issued within two days, enabling construction teams to begin work by November 1.

11 roads reopen, 7 routes still closed

The reopening of the CV-400 and CV-407 roads, among others, has been crucial for restoring mobility in the region, alleviating congestion and facilitating emergency work.

However, seven main routes remain closed, including sections of the CV-36, CV-33, CV-309, CV-42, CV-304, CV-407 and CV-50.

Efforts to stabilise damaged bridges and footbridges, and establish new emergency contracts, are ongoing to address these high-priority areas.

Towns such as Torrent remain especially isolated as work accelerates on the CV-33, where a collapsed bridge has hindered access to the area.

Martínez Mus praised local residents for heeding the government’s request to reduce their usage of private vehicles, which has allowed repair teams greater access to affected sites. He noted that reopening connectivity for these cut-off areas remains a top priority.

Metrovalencia service to resume partially this Saturday

In a significant step for urban mobility, the Metrovalencia subway and tram network is scheduled to reopen on Saturday November 9, two days ahead of the initial timeline.

Tram services on lines 4, 6, 8 and 10 will operate from the Alacant station, providing a vital link for Valencia residents.

The regional council has divided the metro’s recovery into three stages due to extensive damage across the network. The first phase will restore tram service this Saturday, while the second phase, targeting lines 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7, is set to resume within a month.

However, lines connecting to Valencia’s southern suburbs, the areas most heavily affected, are expected to take several months to fully repair.

“The scale of damage is immense, and while we’re pushing to re-establish services as soon as possible, the work will extend into next year for certain connections,” Martínez Mus acknowledged.

Images: Generalitat Valenciana

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