The main objective of this project, approved today by the foral government and agreed upon by the Council and Adif, is to remove vehicular traffic from the railway crossing that runs through the town of Pobes. This crossing is considered one of the most problematic in Álava's road network, as it is located on one of the main roads of the Añana Cuadrilla and serves as the primary access route to the Salt Valley.
To bypass the railway, a 2.8-kilometer-long bypass will be constructed. The first 875 meters will be built over the existing alignment, and a viaduct 420 meters long and 20 meters high will also be erected to cross both the railway and the A-4316 road. The new route will encircle the town center, first from the east and then from the south, along the banks of the Baia and Añana rivers, diverting traffic away from the urban core.
“"He has defended the need to build a road that avoids the Pobes railway crossing, but he does not agree with the project presented by the council, because the town would be isolated, and it would be 'a catastrophe'."
The Ribera Alta City Council has rejected the project promoted by the Council from the outset. Although the mayor of the municipality acknowledges the need for a road to bypass the railway crossing, he disagrees with the current project, arguing that it would isolate the town. The general deputy of the Foral Council, however, has stated that now is the time to present allegations.
This work in Pobes is included in the Comprehensive Road Plan of Álava (2016-2027). The Foral Council will be responsible for carrying out the bypass construction, while Adif will build two pedestrian crossings – one over and one under – to allow safe passage across the railway. According to the agreement signed by both entities in 2022, the costs will be financed equally.
