+ Gibraltar road to Spain open

Called Kingsway, the Gibraltar Airport road tunnel under the runway is finally open, offering a 24/7 link to Spain. 

Cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles no longer have to wait for flights to land or take off, as the former road crossed the runway. Together with holidaymakers both ways, and the 15,000 daily commuters it has been one of the world’s greatest perpetual traffic jams.

This marked the end of a construction project that took more than 14 years to complete, with building work suspended for five years by litigation between the contractor and the Government of Gibraltar.

The road across the runway will still be in use for pedestrians and cyclists, as the tunnel is only for vehicles.

The tunnel provides the only access point from Gibraltar for cars and motorcycles (including commercial vehicles) to Eroski supermarket, Western Beach, Four Corners residential area and the Spanish frontier.

In 2012 a new terminal was opened between the runway and frontier with a potential direct passenger border crossing similar to Basle.  Here the Swiss and French have an amicable arrangement.  Whilst strongly supported by the local Mayors, a similar idea for Gib has been frowned upon by successive Spanish governments. There are post-Brexit talks in place but little information on progress.

www.gibraltarairport.gi

Index/Home page
 

READERS' COMMENT

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 200 words maximum

Gill Pathos, Tarifa - spain

At last you can get easily into Gibraltar in the early morning but what hope is there of a Spanish government allowing the airport terminal access to what is a Monarchy? It would be very good for Spain.