The N-622 (known unofficially as the Autovía de Altube[2]) is a road in Álava, Basque Country, Spain. It links Vitoria-Gasteiz with the Autopista AP-68 at Altube [es]. Together with the AP-68 motorway, it constitutes the most important road link between Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz.[3] The whole road is a dual carriageway, with parts of it classified as autovía.

Autovía N-622 shield}}
Autovía N-622
Map
Route information
Length19.35 km[1] (12.02 mi)
Existed1978–present
Major junctions
FromVitoria-Gasteiz
ToAltube [es]
Location
CountrySpain
Autonomous
community
Basque Country
ProvinceÁlava
Highway system

History edit

The road opened gradually in 1978 after more than two years of works. The Murgia bypass was opened in mid-June, followed a few weeks later by the stretch from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Arangiz.[4] The Letona-Zarate stretch was opened partially (only one of the carriageways) on 22 August, while the Arangiz-Zarate stretch followed in early September.[5] On 14 October the last remaining section of the road was inaugurated, with the opening of the second Aiurdin tunnel.[6]

On 3 June 2009, the interchange with the new AP-1 motorway at Etxabarri Ibiña opened.[7] Traffic from the AP-1 towards the A-1 motorway uses the N-622 from Etxabarri Ibiña to the cloverleaf interchange with the A-1 near Vitoria-Gasteiz. As a result, that stretch suffers from recurrent traffic jams, particularly in the summer.[8] In 2022, a study to improve the traffic flow in the area was announced.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ Deloitte (19 May 2020). Tercer Plan General de Carreteras del País Vasco 2017-2028 (PDF) (Report). Basque Government. p. 73. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  2. ^ "La Diputación de Álava invertirá 1,1 millones de euros en una pantalla acústica en la N-622 a la altura de Ametzaga". Europa Press (in Spanish). 26 April 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  3. ^ "El precoz temporal causa dos muertos y colapsa el tráfico". El País (in Spanish). 10 November 2001. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Apertura del tramo Vitoria-Aránguiz de la Autovía de Altube". El Correo (in Spanish). 23 June 1978. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  5. ^ "A primeros de septiembre quedará abierta toda la autovía de Altube". El Correo (in Spanish). 23 August 1978. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Esta tarde quedará abierto al tráfico el segundo túnel de Ayurdin". El Correo (in Spanish). 14 October 1978. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  7. ^ Llorente, Adolfo (4 June 2008). "Álava estrena la Vitoria-Eibar y la Diputación abre de forma provisional y sin peaje el tramo de 6,2 kilómetros entre Echávarri-Viña y Luko para descongestionar parte del tráfico del norte de la capital". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  8. ^ Eguía, Sergio (31 July 2015). "Una jornada de retenciones en el embudo entre la AP-1, la N-622 y la A-1". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  9. ^ Armentia, Iker (31 August 2022). "Álava encargará en 2023 los estudios previos para resolver las retenciones en el 'trebol' de la A-1 y la N-622". Cadena SER (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 December 2022.

External links edit