Relief is on the horizon for drivers affected by the month-long closure of the AP-7 motorway tunnel in Pilar de la Horadada.
The tunnel, which has been shut in the Cartagena-bound direction since a tragic truck fire claimed a driver’s life, is set to reopen during the last weekend of June. The announcement was made this Sunday by the town’s mayor, José María Pérez Sánchez, via social media.
Since the incident, the closure has severely disrupted traffic flow between the Region of Murcia and the Alicante municipality, particularly affecting those traveling to and from the popular beach destinations of Campoamor, Torre de la Horadada, and Mil Palmeras.
With vehicles diverted onto the N-332 and funnelled through San Pedro del Pinatar before rejoining the AP-7, long tailbacks—especially on weekends—have become the norm.
As summer approaches, the congestion is growing steadily worse. Sundays are particularly problematic, with heavy traffic returning from coastal areas. “This has become one of the most critical traffic hotspots leading into the summer,” noted Mayor Pérez.
In response, local officials have explored alternative solutions to ease the bottleneck. However, the options remain limited. “The easiest solution would be to convert one of the closed lanes into a temporary two-way road, but the Ministry of Public Works has ruled that out due to safety concerns,” Pérez explained. “Other alternatives involve secondary routes that are not equipped to handle the volume of diverted traffic.”
Despite the complexity of the situation, the announcement of a firm reopening date comes as a welcome development. “The reopening aligns with the beginning of the peak tourist season, when many residents and visitors head to Pilar de la Horadada for their holidays,” said the mayor. He added that the Ministry is working diligently to complete the necessary repairs to the damaged infrastructure.
“I appreciate their commitment and remain in close contact with the Ministry of Public Works to keep residents informed of any further updates,” Pérez concluded.
