argia.eus
INPRIMATU
They denounce the use of the COVID-19 epidemic by the institutions to advance in the works of the 'Supersur' variant of Bilbao
  • Platform No to Southern Enlargement has denounced that the Basque Government and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia have benefited from the COVID-19 epidemic and the state of alarm to intensify the works of the highway and start works inside the Bolintxu valley. In view of the current socio-economic and ecological situation, it has called on the institutions to halt works immediately.
ARGIA @argia 2020ko ekainaren 02a

The works of expansion of the Supersur motorway of Bilbao have not registered any confinement, the construction companies have been working and have put at risk not only the health of the workers but also that of the whole of the population. Platform No to Supersur's Enlargement has lamented the "irresponsible" situation in the country.

The day after the coronavirus crisis, the platform is clear that such projects have no place: "In the new Post COVID-19 scenario, the Supersur is not viable. It is a good time to propose new forms of mobility that respect both the most sustainable territorial development and the environment and the more climate." Remember that on 30 July 2019 the Basque Government declared the climate emergency to make the Basque Country carbon neutral. It also calls for the development of other modes of transport such as pedestrians, bicycles and public transport.

The group calls for the appropriations that are being used and intended to be used in the future to combat COVID-19: the strengthening of public health, social assistance for all people affected by the health and economic crisis and other works of greater social interest to improve the life of citizens.

EUR 47 million per kilometre

The platform denounces that the works of the Supersur of Bilbao are very expensive, adding that instead of dynamizing the economy, the project "debt more public money". In fact, according to the data of the platform, each kilometre costs the population of Bizkaia EUR 47 million, to which must be added the money that has been mortgaged for the previous phase, the interest of the loans and the losses due to operating deficit: "All this will mean that over the next 20 years more than EUR 60 million will be paid a year," he added.

Cautioning that the use made is much lower than expected – reaching even 50% of what is expected and, if that were not enough, future forecasts point to even less use – the platform considers it "absurd" to spend public money on this project.