Fix the investment gap and demand execution of pending transport infrastructures. This is the purpose of a document prepared by the Alicante State Institute of Economic Research (Ineca) in collaboration with the Chamber and the Valencian Community Business Confederation (CEV), which includes: Eleven road, rail and port projects worth 2,050 million eurosconsidered essential for the growth and competitiveness of this region. The report, which they want to increase the pressure on the infrastructure deficit, is that it can be agreed and that actions can be taken by 2030 at the latest.
The document was presented at a ceremony held at the Institución Ferial Alicantina (IFA) this Thursday, which brought together around thirty representatives of business and industry associations, as well as public institutions such as the municipalities of Alicante, Elche and Elda, and the House of Representatives. Armando Ortuño, director of Ineca Projects and coordinator of the report, explains: This is an update of the work already carried out for the Chamber and CEV in 2018, with little progress being made..
Works deemed essential in the road section; The third lane of the A-70 between Alicante and Elche, worth 255m euros, to avoid delays; upgrading the A-31 between Villena and Alicante for 154 million in order to reduce the accident rate; the third lane at 120m to increase traffic flow between Crevillent and Murcia on the A-7; The underpass of the Alicante University roundabout, which will also connect with the Science Park, is 19 million; and N-332’s expansion to 40 million as it passes through Torrevieja, who has been paralyzed since 2016.
As far as railway infrastructures are concerned, the document highlights: Execution of the coastal train between Alicante and Benidorm for 630m euros after the Generalitat takes over the Dénia-Gandia division; Upgrade the Alicante-Elche-Murcia railway axis to 505 million, including the airport connection; Connection to the Port of Alicante and the land ports of the Mediterranean Corridor, 152 million; Upgrade of the Alcoy-Xàtiva line to 145 million; and to AVE Alicante-València 24 million currently under construction. To all this must be added the expansion of pier number 19 at the Port of Alicante to increase the transport of goods by sea, and its budget still needs to be determined.
Ortuño noted that the work includes not only the direct contributions of administrations from General Government Budgets or European funds, but also Possible options for public-private participation as a complementary formula to mobilize the necessary investment.
Nacho Amirola, president of Ineca, once again insisted: The lack of investment in transport infrastructure in the province of Alicante over the past 15 years has created a backlog of around 4,000 million euros.reinforcing mobility problems of passengers and goods p. “The document demonstrates that it is possible to develop a detailed and programmatic investment plan that represents a sufficiently noticeable shock for the province to come out of exclusion and invisibility,” he emphasizes.
Joaquín Pérez, head of CEV Alicante, states that Alicante’s special situation “requires specific analysis and cooperation”, such as the creation of a monitoring commission for projects to be carried out proposed to the secretary. State of Transport, Isabel Pardo de Vera. Finally, Chamber president Carlos Baño emphasizes that “working together has always been synonymous with success and in this case more than ever necessary. Transfer the State’s needs to the State so it can continue to thrive, create wealth and jobs“.
430 million extra costs due to insufficient capacity of the port
Companies in the province exporting by sea are faced with a transportation cost of 430 million Euros every year due to the insufficient capacity of the facilities at the Port of Alicante.
Chamber president Carlos Baño pointed out this and declared that 862,000 of the million containers transported annually must be boarded at the Port of Valencia. “These are additional costs that our companies could save if the Alicante port berth 19 were fully operational,” he emphasizes.
Therefore, this is one of the demands contained in the document prepared by Ineca so that the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda can undertake and implement it within the 2030 horizon. As a result, there is no specific budget to address this action, the investment required to expand the pier is estimated to be around 25 million, much lower than the costs incurred by the companies in terms of transportation.