The General Assemblies of Gipuzkoa approved an amendment this Thursday, calling on the Provincial Council to undertake an urgent intervention at the Irurain roundabout in Urnieta before September. The aim is to guarantee the safety of both users and pedestrians.
The proposal, put forward by EH Bildu, received support from the PNV and the PSE, seeking to eliminate hazardous situations in the area. The Provincial Council, as the owner of the GI-3722 road, is responsible for resolving this long-standing issue affecting residents of Urnieta.
Due to its location between two entrances and exits of the A-15, and at the entrance and exit of the industrial zone and quarry, in addition to being a necessary passage to access a newly opened large-capacity gas station, the roundabout experiences high daily traffic intensity. Numerous large trucks share the space with pedestrians and cyclists who use the bidegorri from Andoain and the healthy paths of Urnieta.
“"It is evident that, before something serious happens, the Irurain area requires an urgent intervention that guarantees the safety of both bicycle users and pedestrians."
Despite the heavy flow, the roundabout has "significant safety deficiencies," lacking vertical signs, pedestrian crossings, traffic lights, or passive elements. Furthermore, the sidewalks leading to the roundabout from the Ergoien industrial estate are "too narrow," and there are no differentiated lanes for cyclists and pedestrians. All these factors make the area an "unsafe" place where risky situations occur daily. This situation is expected to worsen with the future extension of the Plazaola greenway from Lasarte-Oria.
