article_detail
6 worst motorways and dual carriageways in Spain
The OCU judged the roads in Spain on volume of traffic, condition and safety
Spain is a wide-open country with great conditions for driving and miles and miles of beautiful scenery to take in. Many people like to hit the open road to explore Spain’s peaceful mountain retreats and idyllic coastal resorts. But sometimes road trips can be wrought with stress, not least because of the state of many of the country’s motorways and dual carriageways.
To get a better sense of what bothers drivers the most, Spain’s Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) surveyed 1,259 motorists and compiled a list of the very worst roads in the country, based on aspects like volume of traffic, road works and the design of entrance and exit ramps.
The worst rated motorways and dual carriageways in Spain:
- The AP-8 or Autopista del Cantábrico (Irún-Bilbao) scored a paltry 5.7 out of 10 and out of all the thoroughfares, it ranked the lowest in the excessive flow of traffic. It was also criticised for the continuous presence of road works and the poor safety for drivers on its many bends.
- Not too far ahead is the AP-1 or Autopista del Norte (Vitoria-Irun), with an overall score of just 5.8. Excessive road works again lowered the ratings, in addition to frequent traffic jams and the poor design of entrance and exit ramps. The small number of service areas also dragged this motorway down in the ranking.
- Next up is the AP-9 or Autopista del Atlantico (Ferrol-Portugal), with 6.1. It received its low score for the condition of the road and the continuous works.
- The A-49 or Autovia del V Centenario (Seville-Portugal) is the worst rated dual carriageway and ranked number 4 overall, with a score of 6 out of 10 due to the excessive traffic and very few rest stops. A common trend, this road was also slammed for frequent road works and scored particularly low on the condition of the road itself.
- Also coming in with a score of 6 out of 10 is the A-7 or Autovia del Mediterraneo (Algeciras-Almeria), again because of the constant road works which slow traffic. It was also criticised for the poor design of the entrances and exits (the lowest score of all dual carriageways), the poor condition of the road overall and the lack of service areas.
- Rounding off the list of the six worst roads in all of Spain is the A-52 or Autovia de las Riax Baixas (Benavente-Vigo) with a score of 6.1. Once again, road works are the bugbear of motorists here, followed by the state of the road, the lack of service areas and the lack of guardrails.
Urban and rural roads
The data collected for local, urban and rural roads are even worse, with an average rating of around 6 out of 10, which the OCU claims points directly to the need for further investment.
Although spending on conserving and maintaining these roads has increased significantly in the last year or so, “it is still far from the figures of neighbouring countries and accumulates a high historical deficit", the OCU confirmed.
>>> Find all the latest motoring and travel news here or join our Driving in Spain Facebook group for regular updates <<<
Image: Archive
Loading
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox
Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)
OR
you can sign up to our FREE weekly roundup!
Read some of our recent bulletins:
25% Discount Special Offer subscription:
36.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
(List price 3 months 12 Bulletins)
Read more stories from around Spain:
Contact Spanish News Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268