Brussels, 27/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 26 January, the European Investment Bank (EIB) decided to grant a €200 million loan to BIDEGI S.A. for building San Sebastián's second by-pass in the Provincial Authority of Guipúzcoa in Spain.
The loan will serve to finance a new 17 km stretch of the A-8 motorway (Bilbao-Behobia), by-passing San Sebastián. The A8 (E70 - E80) forms part of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) and provides a through route from Portugal to south-west France as well as being a key element of Guipúzcoa's transport infrastructure. The aim of the project is to improve conditions for through traffic as the existing by-pass is highly congested because it is also used by urban traffic going in and out of San Sebastián. The new stretch, which will be linked by interchanges to the N-I trunk road and the Urumea motorway, will be 2x2 lanes on the section between Aritzeta and the Urumea interchange and 3x2 lanes on the Astigarraga to Errenteria section.
Bidegi Gipuzkoako Azpiegituren Agentzia - Agencia Guipuzcoana de Infraestructuras, S.A. is a government-owned company overseen by the Provincial Authority of Guipúzcoa which is responsible for managing Guipúzcoa's section of the A8 motorway. Its remits include the maintenance, improvement and extension of this trans-European communications link and it reinvests all operating profits into the motorway. (O.L./transl.rh)