San Pedro-Ronda route to be reopened

The A-397, the link road between Ronda and San Pedro Alcántara so crucial to local people and businesses, will reopen on Monday, July 14, after being closed since March after severe storm damage caused a landslide. 

The announcement of the reopening by the regional government of Malaga is a testament to the tireless efforts of a group of workers who endured any weather condition to restore the connection.

María de la Paz Fernández, Mayor of Ronda, welcomed the news as “vitally important” for the thousands of workers who commute daily to the Costa del Sol. “It’s been a challenging few months for many Ronda and Serranía residents,” she said in an interview with Canal Sur Radio, praising the “enormous effort” by the Andalusian Ministry of Infrastructure. The workers, who have been operating day and night with a €4.5 million budget, tackled the complex task of repairing the mountain road with technical precision despite adverse conditions. Originally, it was thought that the project could take 12 months.

The closure forced commuters to take lengthy detours, such as the Gaucín-Manilva route, which included costly tolls and considerably more time. Fernández said that the partial reopening will ease the financial and logistical burdens on workers and businesses. She explained that this road is vital to the region because it connects Ronda and the Costa del Sol. It also supports the local economy including tourism.

Although full repairs are still underway, the partial reopening restores a semblance normality to commuters as well as businesses. “We’re thrilled,” Fernández said. This will bring relief to workers, families and businesses, and help to revive the flow vital to Ronda’s economy.

Although only one lane is initially open while the work continues, the community looks forward to the day when they can use the mountain passes again. They thank the workers for their dedication and perseverance in restoring this vital link.