Sando Construcción to build the last section of the Murcia-Almería AVE high-speed train line through Lorca

13/03/2024

The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (Mitma), through Adif Alta Velocidad, has awarded Sando Construcción, in a joint venture, the contract to build the section that completes the Murcia-Almería AVE line for 328 million euros.

This action completes this 17-section line, which acts as a strategic axis of the Mediterranean Corridor project.

High specialisation for a complex project

The construction of this section through Lorca (3.2 km) includes the construction of a 2.9 km tunnel under the old Guadaletín riverbed. A significant technical challenge for which Sando Construcción will put into service the experience and qualifications of its specialised teams.

To execute this tunnel, the riverbed must be temporarily diverted and restored to its original state once the works have been completed. In these works, as a company specialising in environmental solutions, it will carry out procedures under the highest environmental protection standards, aligning with its Sustainability commitment.

Using a standard gauge double track, this tunnel will be used for passenger and freight traffic. It will connect from the Lorca-San Diego station (Totana-Lorca section under construction) to the junction with the RM-11 road (Lorca-Pulpí section, also under construction).

On this line, Sando Construcción executed the Sorbas-Barranco de los Gafarillos section, the longest tunnel crossing the Sierra Cabrera mountain range and the longest high-speed tunnel in Andalusia.

Sustainable mobility and territorial cohesion

In the central part of this section, the new Lorca-Sutullena station will be built with a surface area of 2,314 m². This station will consist of the old historic building, a landmark of the city and cultural heritage of the region, and a new extended area.

This terminal will provide passengers with connectivity between the platforms and underground tracks: two side platforms for high-speed trains and a central platform for local trains. Furthermore, as it will be built next to a bus station, it will facilitate inter-modality: rail connection between medium and long-distance commuter trains and bus lines.

These works will provide the city of Lorca with new Railway connections to promote sustainable mobility and connectivity between different parts of the territory. Moreover, to promote the integration and permeability of the railway in the city, six-level crossings will be removed to create new urban spaces for citizens.