Spain’s Road Network: Development, Challenges & EU Integration
Spain’s Road Network: Development, Challenges, and EU Integration
1. Transport Road Network
The road network connects the various villages. This network provides radio design, with its center in Madrid. This model began in the 18th century with the Duke, stemming from a centralist conception of the state. In the 1960s, the radio model was consolidated because the centralized state favored connecting the capital with the main population and economic activity.
A) Network Powers and Responsibilities
The powers over the network are shared between the State, autonomous regions, and councils.
- The statewide network includes the routes of interest. These have been built in areas with higher traffic intensity, although there are also some cross-cutting themes such as the Ebro, the Mediterranean, and the Andalusian.
- The network of regions satisfies intraregional mobility and links with the national and provincial networks.
B) Technical Characteristics and Network Status
The technical characteristics of the road are wide-ranging. The state of the network is generally satisfactory. Roads and provincial councils have more shortcomings.
C) Traffic Distribution and Regional Imbalances
The road receives the most traffic of passengers and merchandise.
There are clear regional imbalances in the density and intensity of the network and accessibility.
- Higher density corresponds to more economically developed communities (Madrid, Catalonia, Valencia).
- The lowest density is found in areas of lower economic and population concentration (Extremadura, Aragon, Andalusia, and the two Castiles).
- Traffic intensity and accessibility are higher in industrial and tourist zones.
- Accessibility is particularly high at certain points where several high-capacity roads converge (Madrid, Zaragoza, Barcelona).
D) Strategic Transport Infrastructure Plan
- Provide all the territory with a high degree of accessibility by building a high-capacity mesh network connecting all provincial capitals.
- Finish the unfinished areas: closing the Cantabrian motorway, completing the Route de la Plata, and extending the Mediterranean motorway.
E) Integration with the European Union
The Spanish road network aspires to greater integration with the European Union. Regarding Spain, the trans-European road network includes the construction of two new trans-Pyrenean axes (Bordeaux-Valencia, Barcelona-Toulouse).
There are clear territorial imbalances in the density and intensity of the network and accessibility.
- Higher density corresponds to economically developed communities (Madrid, Catalonia, Valencian Community).
- Lower density is in zones of lower economic level and population concentration (Extremadura, Aragon, Andalusia, and the two Castiles).
- Traffic intensity is higher in industrial and tourist zones.
- Accessibility is especially high at points where several high-capacity roads converge (Madrid, Zaragoza, Barcelona).
F) Strategic Infrastructure Transport Plan
- To give the entire territory a high degree of accessibility by building a high-capacity network that connects all provincial capitals.
- Finish the unfinished axes: closing the Cantabrian motorway, completing the Route of Silver, and extending the Mediterranean motorway.
G) Integration with the European Union
The Spanish road network aspires to greater integration with the European Union. In terms of Spain, the trans-European road network contemplates the construction of two new trans-Pyrenean lines (Bordeaux-Valencia, Barcelona-Toulouse).