The Spanish infrastructure manager Adif assigned three tenders for almost 107 million euros to enable rolling highway services along the Madrid-Zaragoza railway. This is an important section for the development of these services in Spain as it is part of three out of seven rolling highway itineraries.
The largest of the three initiatives, valued at 78 million euros, concerns the adaptation of tunnels and overpasses between Madrid and Zaragoza to allow the transit of semi-trailers. In total, 40 overpasses and 26 tunnels will be upgraded. Moreover, Adif is allocating 8.9 million euros to extend rail sidings to 750 metres at Arcos de Jalón and Sigüenza. An additional 20 million-euro investment for the supply of rail sleepers.
The 78-million-euro contract was assigned to two joint ventures. One of the formed by Contratas y Ventas Convensa, Ferrovial Construcción, Vías y Construcciones and Agrupación Guinovart Obras y Servicios Hispania, will take care of the section between San Fernando de Henares, near Madrid, and Santa María de Huerta. The upgrades along Santa María de Huerta-Zaragoza section have been tasked to Tecsa Empresa Constructora and Dragados.
Rolling highways in Spain
As mentioned, the Madrid-Zaragoza axis is a vital section for the development of rolling highways in Spain. Two of them are already active: the Barcelona-Le Perthus and the Madrid-Valencia, inaugurated last July. Six more are currently being developed, with three passing through Madrid and Zaragoza: Algeciras-Madrid-Zaragoza, Huelva-Madrid-Zaragoza and Seville-Madrid-Zaragoza.