N-340 Undergoing Resurfacing

At last! Eight years after the last retarmacking operation on the N-340 where it passes between the eastern access to Motril and the Granada junction, a generous layer of tarmac is being laid.

When this photograph was taken, the operation, which takes place during nighttime hours, had reached the port junction on the main road.

Regular drivers along this stretch of road, which supports heavy coastal traffic in the continued absence of the A-7, will need no reminders of just how deteriorated the surface had become, proving especially dangerous for motorbike riders.

The promised work was first announce almost a year ago, in December 2012, but nothing happened until finally, in June, the Central Government announced that it was waiting for summer to finish. Finally, in November (just how long does summer last?) the tarmacking machinery was out.

The Provincial Sub-Delegate for Central Government, Santiago Pérez, arrived for the photo opportunity, joining the Motril Mayor, Luisa García Chamorro, and Vice Mayor, José García Fuentes, but we haven’t produced the photograph sent by the Town Hall because the three of them are completely blocking out the tarmacking work going on behind them.

Whilst we are grateful for the photographs sent in by the coastal town halls, the penchant for blotting out the subject of the photograph by grinning politicians does, often defeat the object.

Sr. Santiago Pérez, announced that “thanks to the push provided by the Town Hall and the Central Government,” this very necessary work is coming about – readers should remember that both administrations are occupied by the conservatives. Sr. Pérez emphasised that it had been an priority for the Central Government.

He remarked that it had been a priority for them in 2004, but they lost the elections, and that nothing had been done by the previous socialist Government. The tarmacking work has a budget of 350.000 euros.

Editorial Comment: Whilst the Central Government is ready to give itself a pat on the back, the A-7 remains unfinished and many consider that  getting the A-7 is far more important than patching up the N-340, where it runs past Motril. Curiously, although the conservatives in Motril set up protest platform to call for the A-7 whilst the Socialists were in power in Madrid, they remain conspicuously devoid of the same fervour now that their own party is occupying the Central Government role.

(News: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)