Traffic chaos after lorry crash on AP-7

The accident occurred shortly after 7:30am at kilometre 645 of the AP-7. Credit: Social Drive Traffic in Alicante province was severely disrupted on Monday 9 June morning following a collision between two lorries on the AP-7 motorway, near l'Alf?s del Pi in the Marina Baixa area.

The crash forced the closure of one of the northbound lanes towards Valencia and led to traffic being diverted onto the N-332, causing long tailbacks in Benidorm, l'Alf?s del Pi and Altea. According to the provincial fire service, the accident occurred shortly after 7:30am at kilometre 645 of the AP-7. One of the lorries ended up blocking a lane, making it impossible for vehicles to pass.

Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene, including several fire crews and ambulances. Firefighters had to cut one of the drivers free from the cab of his lorry before he could be taken to hospital by ambulance. The driver of the second lorry was also injured.

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One of the lorries lost its cargo during the crash, scattering debris across the road.

The impact also caused damage to the motorway's safety barrier. Driver had to be freed from wreckage As of 11:00am--more than three hours after the incident--the right-hand lane of the AP-7 northbound remained closed at the site of the crash, according to Spain's national traffic authority (DGT).

The resulting congestion has continued to affect several roads across the Marina Baixa, particularly the N-332. The AP-7 and N-332 are among the busiest roads in the province of Alicante, and unfortunately, traffic accidents are a regular occurrence--particularly in the Marina Baixa area. According to data from Spain's Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT), this stretch of the AP-7 has seen a notable rise in incidents involving heavy goods vehicles in recent years, often due to high volumes of traffic, narrow lanes in some sections, and limited emergency shoulders.

The N-332, which frequently serves as an alternative route when the AP-7 is blocked, also suffers from congestion and poor road conditions, especially during peak holiday seasons. Local emergency services, including the Provincial Fire Consortium and the Guardia Civil's traffic division, report frequent call-outs to crashes along these routes, especially near urban centres like Benidorm, l'Alf?s del Pi and Altea. Vulnerable corridor

The combination of increased tourism, ageing infrastructure, and the high percentage of lorry traffic makes this corridor particularly vulnerable to major disruptions. Authorities have called for long-term investments in road safety measures, including better signalling and improved lorry regulation, but progress has been slow. To make matters worse, many expats and locals alike feel increasingly frustrated with the toll charges on the AP-7 in Andalusia, particularly given the road's frequent accidents and traffic jams.

Despite being one of the most expensive stretches of motorway in the country[1], drivers often face delays, poor maintenance in certain sections, and minimal alternative routes. "It's outrageous to pay so much and still get stuck for hours," complain residents who rely on the AP-7 for daily commutes or long-distance travel along the southern coast.

The high cost of tolls--especially when compared to toll-free sections in other regions--adds insult to injury for those who have little choice but to use it regularly.

Stay tuned with Euro Weekly News[2] for the latest news about Europe[3] and Costa Blanca[4].

References

1. ^ one of the most expensive stretches of motorway in the country (euroweeklynews.com)
2. ^ Euro Weekly News (euroweeklynews.com)
3. ^ latest news about Europe (euroweeklynews.com)
4. ^ Costa Blanca (euroweeklynews.com)