San Pedro tunnel is OPEN!

Finally open!

So, it actually happened! Maybe not exactly as planned but it happened.

The new tunnel section of the A7 running under San Pedro de Alcantara is open to the public.

Although a little bit late, Minister of Public Works and Transport Ana María Pastor Julián appeared with Marbella Mayoress Ángeles Muñoz to officially open the tunnel. This morning there was a steady stream of motorists shaving 10 minutes of their journey time!

A small group of protesters turned out to demand a cycle lane either through the tunnel or above ground through the town following the tragic death of a cyclist on the A7 a few weeks ago. There was no trouble due to a rather over-the-top police presence.

Hopefully many of the businesses that have struggled since construction began can start to claw back the clientèle they lost due to lack of access. Many business owners I spoke to in Guadalmina and San Pedro said they lost up to half of their business when the road through San Pedro was closed. Many of the businesses along the main road closed their doors for good – of course some will say the economic crisis was the cause, others will argue that the road closure essentially blocked access to their business.