The N-II is one of those infrastructures that accumulate years of unkept promises. In 2009, the State transferred ownership to the Government from Montgat to Tordera, but not the 400 million promised that were to be allocated to the improvement and conservation Of the road. Only 90 arrived, so, applying the CPI, around 384 million are missing, according to Government calculations. That is the figure that ‘Councillor’ of Territori, Ester Capella, has promised again this Monday that it will invest in this artery, eternal scar, aggravated by the presence of the railway, between the coastal towns and the sea. Aim? Let it be more permeablemore citizen, more gentlemore for bikes. “It has to be the civic axis that Maresme deserves,” Capella summarized.
Why should the inhabitants of this region believe that now it’s serious the promise to pacify the N-II? There is a key element: The Generalitat and the Government are finalizing an agreement that will put black on white money and planned projects. According to Territori, this agreement is “drafted, agreed upon and in the process of formalization by both parties”. Negotiations were made with the team of the former Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, Rachel Sanchez but it will have to be closed with the new cabinet of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, led by Oscar Puente. In fact, this money is part of the agreement by which ERC voted in favor of the general state budgets, an amount that amounted to 914 million destined for infrastructure on this side of the Ebro, including 384 for the Maresme. It needed to be shaped; They are in it.
Bridge to consensus
Is the entente in danger? Taking into account that the investiture of Pedro Sánchez was achieved, in large part, thanks to the votes of the Esquerra deputiesit would not be too risky to say that Puente will maintain the predisposition of her predecessor and that she will comply with the agreement reached last June. The idea is to apply what was proposed at the time with the Ronda del Vallès (‘aka’ Fourth Belt), that is, that the State pays and the Government plans and executes. In fact, there are already some works that are in the phase of informative study, such as the new links from the municipalities to the highway.
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For these entrances to C-32, the agreement reserves a game of 90 million euros. Once they are completed, they should allow the N-II, which today registers about 30,000 vehicles daily On the busiest stretches, it accommodates 10,000 fewer cars. The new links are planned in Alella-MasnouTeià, Premià de Mar, Cabrils-Vilassar de Mar, Canet and Calella. Another one, Llavaneres, is planned to be improved. They will be prioritized, Territori details, “depending on whether its impact be positive in improving mobility and socioeconomic profitability planned”.
30% fewer cars
The end of tolls has generated an effect calling drivers towards the C-32. In fact, on the N-II, according to Trànsit figures, the Traffic has been reduced by 30% since the highway became free. That is what allows us to begin to think that the coastal road can become more of a walk that connects municipalities than a road impassable on foot or by bicycle. For the latter, by the way, a bike path is planned; but there will also be widening of sidewalks and better urban arterial integration. It is a good example of what the urban planners who have drafted the metropolitan urban master plan define as metropolitan avenues. All of these projects, by the way, are also being drafted.