Spain’s first move difficult shoulder: nan AP-4 southbound by Las Cabezas de San Juan (km 41.12–44.5), which DGT will unfastened to cars astatine highest times erstwhile signposted. Credit : X - Ministerio Transportes y Movilidad Sostenible @transportesgob
Holiday postulation to Cádiz is astir to get a small little hair-pulling. In a first for Spain, nan DGT will fto cars usage nan difficult enarthrosis arsenic a unrecorded lane connected a engaged portion of nan AP-4 – but only astatine circumstantial times and only erstwhile nan signs opportunity so. Think of it arsenic a pop-up other lane to extremity queues from grinding to a halt.
Where Spain’s hard-shoulder lane starts – and who tin usage it
The aviator kicks disconnected Friday 9 August connected nan Cádiz-bound carriageway of nan AP-4, betwixt km 41.12 and km 44.5, conscionable earlier nan Las Cabezas de San Juan exit that feeds nan A-471 towards Lebrija, Trebujena and Sanlúcar de Barrameda. When postulation spikes, adaptable signs will induce touring cars onto nan enarthrosis to summation flow. HGVs and buses enactment put successful nan normal lanes; emergency entree is preserved.
Crucially, this isn’t a free-for-all. Outside those highest windows – aliases if nan connection boards are acheronian – nan enarthrosis goes backmost to being what it’s ever been: a refuge lane you must not use. The Ministry of Transport says it has reinforced and re-marked nan enarthrosis complete caller months truthful it tin safely transportation moving postulation during activations.
Why nan DGT is betting connected move shoulders connected nan AP-4
If you’ve crawled on this corridor successful summer, you’ll cognize why. The AP-4 is nan south’s workhorse, linking Seville pinch nan state of Cádiz and serving some Algeciras Bay logistics and nan yearly Operation Crossing nan Strait. Since tolls were scrapped successful 2020, wide volumes connected nan motorway person jumped by astir 50%, pinch seasonal peaks pressing capacity to nan limit.
Rather than move concrete, nan DGT is borrowing a instrumentality utilized crossed Europe: move hard-shoulder running. Authorities constituent to countries specified arsenic Germany, wherever managed hard-shoulder schemes person delivered capacity gains of up to 25% connected bottleneck stretches without denting information — provided nan rules are crystal clear and actively enforced. The logic is simple: during nan worst hours, nan enarthrosis is dormant space; unfastened it concisely and you unlock an other lane precisely wherever request spikes.
For nan AP-4, nan pinch constituent is nan 40–44 km conception astir Las Cabezas, wherever formation postulation peels disconnected towards nan coast. By letting A-471-bound drivers gaffe onto a signposted shoulder, officials expect a smarter, calmer merge and less stop-start waves that ripple backmost for kilometres.
What drivers request to watch for: signs, speeds and safety
The set-up is designed to beryllium idiot-proof, but it still relies connected drivers paying attention. Electronic gantries and roadside panels will show you erstwhile nan enarthrosis is unfastened and astatine what speed. If nan show shows a greenish arrow aliases a lane awesome complete nan shoulder, you whitethorn usage it; if it shows a reddish cross, you whitethorn not. Expect impermanent velocity limits to look pinch nan activation — they’re location to support flows soft and time off room for breakdowns.
A fewer crushed rules nan DGT wants hammered home:
- It’s occasional, not permanent. If you don’t spot it open, it isn’t.
- Cars only. The enarthrosis lane is not for lorries, coaches aliases vehicles towing trailers.
- Keep it clean. No weaving successful and out; dainty it for illustration a normal lane while it’s progressive and watch for merges astatine nan extremity of nan section.
- Respect closures instantly. If a reddish transverse lights up aliases an incident motion appears, move backmost to nan main carriageway arsenic soon arsenic it’s safe.
Misusing nan enarthrosis erstwhile it’s closed still counts arsenic a superior offence and tin costs you a good and licence points. The flip broadside is obvious: get it correct and that stubborn Las Cabezas queue should commencement to shrink.
Why this matters beyond Cádiz: nan AP-4 proceedings is Spain’s trial bed. If nan information show shorter queues and less shunts, expect different hotspots to follow. With tourism up and freight growing, sweating nan asphalt we already person is quicker — and acold cheaper — than waiting years for caller lanes.
For now, nan connection to anyone heading southbound is straightforward: support an oculus connected nan gantries betwixt km 41 and 45. If nan difficult enarthrosis lights up, you’ve conscionable been handed a prize lane. Use it properly, and your dash to nan seashore mightiness yet consciousness for illustration a thrust – not a standstill.
Stay tuned pinch Euro Weekly News for nan latest news from Spain