Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
The Ministry of Transport has completed construction of the AP-7 autobahn between Malaga and Torremolinos. The placement involved three metal acoustic barrier designed to reduce the environmental noise impact on this part of Costa del Sol.
It is concluded that the works in the Malaga – Estepona segment extending from kilometres 995.9 to 997.6 have been completed.
Details of the individual acoustic panels
The first screen stretches 500 metres on the left of the road, in the direction of Malaga. The structure is 4.5 meters high, and has a surface area of 2250 square metres.
The second screen runs 685 metres between kilometres 997.1 and 996.4. It is also located on the left, towards Malaga. The height of the screen is 4 meters, while its surface area is 2,740 sqm.
From kilometer 996.6 to 997.3, the third screen is 648 meters long. It runs on the right-hand side and heads towards Cadiz. Its height is 3 meters and it has a surface area of 44 square metres.
The scale and investment figures
In total, the works amount to nearly 7,000 sqm of installed acoustic screens. Investment for these improvements totalled €3.3 million, including value-added tax. These funds were sourced from European Union sources for recovery and resilience.
Noise management in a broader context
Second phase actions are part of the Noise Action Plan. The European Directive on Evaluation and Management of Environmental Noise is followed. The directive aims to create a structure that will allow people to live near major transportation routes to be exposed to lower levels of noise. New installations in Malaga and Torremolinos have reduced noise levels for residents.
Previously, noise levels from traffic on the AP-7 were noticeable in nearby residential zones. The new barriers are designed to absorb and redirect those noises away from residential zones and businesses.
The barriers are placed alongside the carriageway, allowing motorway users to continue their journeys uninterrupted. Construction was efficient, with metal materials suitable for coastal conditions. They do however block out the fantastic view from travelling cars to the Med and Torremolinos. The local council worked with national agencies to ensure that all specifications met safety criteria and performance criteria.
