2 Jul, 2024 @ 14:30
1 min read

Marbella residents set to enjoy €13 million upgrade to AP7 motorway – while plans for a much-needed Costa del Sol train languish

MARBELLA residents are set to benefit from a hefty investment to install noise reduction panels along the motorway running through the town.

The €13.1 million project involves the installation of 28 acoustic screens starting in the AP75 toll road to the west of the city and running all the way down to the exit road.

The screens are intended to cut down the traffic noise, benefiting the affected residents and neighbourhoods on either side of the motorway.

The works, by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility, and Sustainable Development are financed through the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan, which allocates €302 million for various sustainability, energy efficiency, and noise reduction initiatives on the country’s road network.

READ MORE: Spain to crack down on online porn: Government wants to limit people to 30 sessions a month – with usage controlled by ‘access cards’

However, this new investment has drawn criticism due to the lack of progress on the coastal railway project, a long-awaited infrastructure project for the entire Costa del Sol region.

While the investment in the AP-7 will improve the quality of life for residents affected by noise, many criticise the government for not prioritising the development of the coastal railway. 

The railway line is considered crucial for improving connectivity and reducing congestion on the Costa del Sol’s motorway network, one of Spain’s most touristy areas.

“This investment in the motorway, while necessary, overshadows the glaring absence of progress on the coastal train project,” a local government representative from the Costa del Sol stated. 

READ MORE: Malaga plans to approve the Costa del Sol train project and elimination of toll roads within a year

“It’s baffling that we continue to pour millions into the motorway when the promise of the coastal train remains unfulfilled.”

The coastal railway project would not only help the movement of residents and tourists but would also reduce traffic and CO2 emissions. 

The installation of acoustic screens on the AP-7, although necessary, is seen as a half measure compared to the broader benefits that the coastal railway would bring.

Walter Finch

Walter Finch, who comes from a background in video and photography, is keen on reporting on and investigating organised crime, corruption and abuse of power. He is fascinated by the nexus between politics, business and law-breaking, as well as other wider trends that affect society.
Born in London but having lived in six countries, he is well-travelled and worldly. He studied Philosophy at the University of Birmingham and earned his diploma in journalism from London's renowned News Associates during the Covid era.
He got his first break in the business working on the Foreign News desk of the Daily Mail's online arm, where he also helped out on the video desk.
He then decided to escape the confines of London and returned to Spain in 2022, having previously lived in Barcelona for many years.
He took up up a reporter role with the Olive Press Newspaper and today he is based in La Linea de la Concepcion at the heart of a global chokepoint and crucial maritime hub, where he edits the Olive Press Gibraltar edition.
He is also the deputy news editor across all editions of the newspaper.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Story

¿Cuáles son los problemas de las baterías de litio de los EVs?

Next Story

Squatters block €650m project in Marbella: Plans for luxury Four Seasons hotel are delayed as 60 ‘okupas’ refuse to leave beachfront site

Latest from Costa del Sol

Go toTop

More From The Olive Press