The Supersur expansion project foresees the construction of a tunnel under Mount Arnotegi and a viaduct above the Bolintxu River. The Provincial Council of Bizkaia foresees a budget of 200 million euros for the construction of the 4.2 kilometre long stretch of road, 47.6 million euros per kilometre.

The platform “Ampliación Supersur No!” has expressed its opposition, insisting that the works are unjustifiable in terms of society, economy and environment. The association of the need for these works with the increase in demand for infrastructure that will result from the exit of the crisis is called a “weak approach”.

They point out that the numbers do not show the need for this project of the Diputación, adding some tables of data. According to 2016 data, for example, there were 5,326 fewer vehicles in the metropolitan area of Bilbao in that year than in the previous year. And considering that the transit is only used by 6% of the traffic of the metropolitan area, they point out that it is difficult to justify that the realization of these new 4.2 kilometers will increase the demand for the use of the Supersur, considering that it will only result in a saving of 5 minutes.

Instead of focusing the Diputación’s policy on the demand for transport, it has been criticized that it focuses its investments on infrastructure. The Atxondo corridor, the Autzagan tunnel and the Ermua variant, among others, have been used as examples of these infrastructures that promote the use of their own vehicles. And they add that “the transport policies defined by the Diputación contradict the efforts made by the local administrations”.

Attention has also been paid to the impact that the project would have on the environment, emphasizing that it would cause damage to the mountainside of Bolintxu. The Bilbao City Council unanimously approved in 2008 that the Pagasarri Special Plan designates the Bolintxu area as a place to be protected, warning that the new road will damage its flora and fauna.

The Hole Before the Supersur

The platform has taken advantage of the moment to reveal the holes that the Supersur entails from the beginning. On the one hand, it is recalled that the Supersur was presented as a solution to the traffic jams that existed in the A8, and that although they foresaw 24,000 users – vehicles – in reality it has not reached half of that. On the other hand, they highlight the difference between the initial and final budgets of the project: In 2001, expenditure for the Supersur works was estimated at 465 million euros and, once the works were completed, 821 million euros were spent. 49.49 million euros were invested per kilometer, making the Supersur the most expensive motorway in Spain.

Call for mobilizations

For these reasons, the platform has asked the Provincial Council of Bizkaia to cancel the project. And on Sunday, May 20, a march to Bolintxu has been organized to protest the project. 09:00 Departure from Plaza Moyua and end in Buia