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Date Published: 01/04/2025

Andalucía speeds up road repairs to reconnect Ronda and the Costa del Sol

Specialist teams work seven days a week to stabilise the slope and repair the viaduct on the A-397

The A-397 road linking Ronda and San Pedro Alcántara has been closed since Friday March 8, when a huge landslide triggered by Storm Jana sent rocks crashing down the mountainside, causing major structural damage. The Minister of Public Works, Rocío Díaz, visited the road to inspect the damage and now, the Junta de Andalucía is accelerating repair efforts, working non-stop to stabilise the slope and rebuild the road as quickly as possible.

A team of around 20 specialists, including climbers trained for high-altitude work, is on-site every day of the week. A 200-tonne crane has also been deployed to access the highest point of the landslide, some 100 metres above the road. The focus is first on securing the slope before tackling the damaged section of the viaduct.

Regional minister for public works, Rocío Díaz, emphasised the urgency of the project, stating: “We are using all possible human and technical resources to speed up the work as much as possible and reopen the road safely as soon as we can.” She also highlighted the complexity of working at such heights, stressing that stabilising the slope is the top priority before moving on to repairs.

The next step involves installing a protective mesh across the rock face to prevent further landslides. This process is expected to move faster with the arrival of extra workers this week, bringing the total workforce on-site to around 20. Díaz explained that this reinforcement would “allow us to accelerate the stabilisation work and bring forward the viaduct repairs.”

The project, which has a budget of €3.5 million, is being carried out in phases. Right now, workers are focused on removing unstable debris and anchoring the protective mesh at the highest point of the landslide. The crane is playing a key role, lifting materials to secure the slope and prevent any further collapses.

Once the slope is stabilised, an intermediate platform will be created to provide access for a high-reach machine, enabling workers to deal with the remaining sections of the landslide. Large 400-tonne boulders deemed unsafe will be removed, and a new dynamic screen – a barrier designed to absorb energy from falling rocks – will be installed to protect the road from future landslides. Meanwhile, the regional ministry is finalising plans for the viaduct repairs, aiming to complete them as quickly as possible.

The A-397 remains completely closed, with no temporary diversion in place due to the severity of the damage. Until repairs are complete, drivers must take alternative routes to reach Ronda from the Costa del Sol.

Image: Junta de Andalucía

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