Work slows on Valencia to Murcia blackspot bypass

THE planned motorway stretch between Villena and Fuente de la Higuera is unlikely to be finished this year.

Completing this 12.5-kilometre detour off the future A-33 Valencia-Murcia motorway was a ministry of Public Works priority. Instead precedence was given to opening the Fuente de la Higuera ring-road to traffic, the ministry explained.

The by-pass was, and still is, considered vital because of the number of accidents on the N-344 main road between Villena and Fuente de la Higuera.  It has only lane in each direction, dangerous curves and numerous gradients but is used daily by hundreds of heavy lorries covering the Valencia-Murcia route.