After almost five years of on-off construction, controversy and congestion, the San Pedro underpass is finally set to open in June this year and boost the property market on Spain’s western Costa del Sol, it is claimed.
Traffic will flow fluidly between Marbella and the western Costa del Sol and breathe new life into this section of the coast’s real estate market where many bargains are currently available.
‘The San Pedro underpass saga has been nothing short of an embarrassment and thorn in the side for residents and tourists alike. A project that was conceived to ease traffic and be finished in 2009 has dragged on almost five years and created the congestion blackspot from hell,’ said Adam Cornwell, managing director of Feltrim International.
‘When the ribbon is cut in June we’ll all breathe a sigh of relief and journeying to towns such as Estepona, Manilva and Duquesa will become a swift pleasure rather than a time consuming chore,’ he added.
Built on the main coastal A7 motorway, the underpass is a kilometre long tunnel that will bring an end to San Pedro’s awkward north/south divide and do away with the need for a series of traffic lights and pedestrian crossings thus making traffic run more freely.
The final cost, after many delays, is reported to reach the €85 million mark but more than 65,000 cars will use the underpass daily and feel its immediate benefit. Marbella Mayor Angeles Muñoz has reassured Minister for Public Works, Ana Pastor, that the project is an absolute priority will be ready to open in June.
