The Prime Minister of Spain was on the Costa Tropical today to inaugurate the final section of the A-7, between Carchuna and Castell de Ferro

At exactly 13.45 PM Rajoy unveiled a plaque-cum-kilometre marker, at the entrance, more or less, of the Gualchos Tunnel.

According to the PM this (the A-7) has been one of the most complex works in the whole of Spain, possessing an “extraordinary importance and transcendence,” especially for the business sector as it connects to the coasts of both Almeria and Málaga.

The A-7 now runs continually for from Cádiz to France along the southern and eastern coast of Spain: a total distance of 1,440 kilometres… which is not exactly just a ‘camel trek and a packed lunch,’ is it?

After the politicians pushed off, bless ’em, the motorway maintenance crews prepared the Carchuna-Castell section for the 18.00h opening to general traffic.

Finally, the ten new kilometres were opened up at 19.00h.

The N-340 between these two coastal towns handles 13,502 vehicles a day – and a much higher figure during the summer months. The vast majority of the traffic throughout the year will now use the newly opened A-7, leaving the N-340 for sightseers and local commuters.

So how much did it all cost? A juicy figure of 118.1-million euros, but if you add to that the cost of the land compulsory purchases along its route, we’re talking about 164.5-million euros.

It’s taken over 20 years to complete the A-7 where it passes through the province of Granada and some good friends are no longer around to see it completed. Georg, for example, the old publisher of the Gazette, and I, went along to cover the inauguration of the La Herradura-Taramay section – that was the last one he witnessed.