The government representative in Seville, Francisco Toscano, has urged the Junta de Andalucía to synchronise the widening works of the A-471 with the state intervention on the AP-4, whose third lane project between Dos Hermanas and Las Cabezas de San Juan, costing €246.8 million, is currently in public consultation.
The government representative of Spain in Seville, Francisco Toscano, defended the Ministry of Transport's actions on the AP-4 this Thursday and called on the Junta de Andalucía to “align” its work on the A-471 so that both interventions are complementary. In an interview on Onda Cero, Toscano emphasised that the state intervention “is not limited to a third lane”, but will include bypass lanes to improve safety and reduce congestion.
The third lane project of the AP-4, which affects the stretch between Dos Hermanas and Las Cabezas de San Juan, has an estimated budget of €246.8 million (including VAT) and has already received provisional approval of the technical document and the environmental impact study. It is currently in the public consultation phase, allowing citizens and institutions to submit objections.
Toscano insisted that the AP-4 “cease to be what it is today” to become the “southern route of the province of Seville”. According to data from the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), the stretch between Dos Hermanas and Las Cabezas records a traffic intensity 30% higher than that of transit through the province of Cádiz. “Therefore, it seems logical that if something needs to be started, it should begin with that first stretch,” he argued.
The representative pointed out that the AP-4 has become the main communication route of the Bajo Guadalquivir with the capital and with the province of Cádiz, serving not only during the summer period but also many workers who use it daily. For this reason, he deemed it necessary to “slightly change the concept” of the motorway to adapt it to its current use.
However, Toscano warned that the improvement of the AP-4 will not be effective if the A-471 is not widened and its accesses improved, a road under regional jurisdiction that “overflows with vehicles from the AP-4”. Therefore, he has asked the Junta to do “its part” and coordinate the timelines of both actions to optimise public resources.
The A-471 connects towns such as Las Cabezas de San Juan with the AP-4 and bears a high volume of traffic, especially during peak hours. Its widening has been a long-standing demand from the municipalities in the area, which see the road as a bottleneck for mobility and the local economy.
The third lane project of the AP-4 is one of the most important investments planned in the province of Seville in terms of infrastructure. The action, promoted by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, aims to increase the capacity of the motorway and improve road safety in a stretch that records frequent congestion and accidents.
So far, there has been no official response from the Junta de Andalucía to Toscano's request. The widening of the A-471 falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Development, Territorial Coordination and Housing, which will need to define the timelines and budget for the work.
Residents of the Bajo Guadalquivir region are keenly awaiting the progress of both projects, which could transform mobility in the area and reduce travel times to Seville and Cádiz. Coordination between administrations will be key to ensuring that the works do not overlap or cause more inconvenience than necessary.
The public consultation period for the third lane project of the AP-4 will remain open for the coming weeks, allowing interested parties to submit objections and suggestions. Once this phase is completed, the Ministry will be able to tender the works, which are expected to begin in the coming years.
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