El tunnele de Castellote, the second longest tunnel in Teruel, has been without electricity for 125 years

Castellote ve la luz is at the end of the tunnel, but not there from the inside. This turolense municipality has one of the most important tunnels in Teruel. In fact, it is the second largest in the state at over 300 meters, right behind Monroyo, which opened 5 years ago. El de Castellote has a history of 125 years and continues without lights today.

According to the book El tunel de Castellote (1998) by Miguel Martin Monforte, this tunnel was opened in 1899 by the Marques de Lema and was intended for the population of Castellote before and after, as this tunnel is the only way to enter it. Bajo Aragontanto para coches como para viadantes. Sus (escasas) luminarias se installaron hace 51 años y, según denuncia los vecinos, son insufficientes for in visibilidad in the interior de la infrastructure y, por lo tanto, la seguridad road, al ser traversado por personas también.

¿How are you in this tunnel? Según traslada la alcaldesa de Castellote, Raquel Benedí, pertenece a la red de carreteras del Government of Aragon. “El encender las luces o apagarlas depende del Ayuntamiento. Solo hay seis luces y media, que cuanto llueve un poco se apagan. Es un sistema muy antiguo”, he claims. The municipal corporation has sent a letter to the DGA asking “what can be done” with the infrastructure. “The municipality also sent an escrito to the previous corporation, but nevertheless,” he said.

Desde el área de Fomento y Vivienda del Ejecutivo autonomico explican que han recibo la petition de la alcaldesa y que They will commission a study to “analyze the commitment or convenience” of lighting the tunnel. “Finalize the analysis to make a permanent decision,” ruler.

The tunnel passing through La Atalaya is more than 300 meters long. State and European regulations on the lighting of this type of construction Determining the obligation to illuminate these infrastructures between 25 and 200 meters, optionally more than 200 meters. Sin embargo, neighbors criticize that the newly opened tunnels que discurre de Alcañiz a Vinaroz on the N-420 in Escucha like San Just (218 m) and the N-232 in Monroyo (495 m) and La Consolación (270 m) , they have a good lighting system.

In addition, Castellote has a remarkable urban character, as it is the city's main entrance and exit to Bajo Aragon and all destinations. “A-226 is the only exit for cars and trucks, but There are also pedestrians, bicycles, tractors and slow vehicles who want to enter the gardens of Barranco de Seno and the hermitage of the corner of Llovedor.so it is visited by people from the city and tourists who love nature,” says Agustín Martínez, a neighbor of the municipality.

Señalización de ceras

In 1973, unos anillos de roca de su is detailed with the installation of the first lighting fixtures, which did not adequately illuminate the interior. “La major parte del año estos viejos proyectores están apagad o averiados por la humidad y su falta estanqueidad”criticism. Además, es el Ayuntamiento de Castellote queen debe pagar el poco consumo de luz. “The pavement markings and road safety inside the tunnel are not enough to protect pedestrians and slow vehicles when drivers of cars, motorcycles, trucks and buses enter blinded by the sudden change of light,” said Agustín Martínez.

It can be said that there are numerous passages in the inner part of the tunnel. “Hay que illuminar también y proteger las ceras del túnel porque son numerous las salen del pueblo walking, en bici, con niños o con mascotas”, repeats this neighbor, who also sent a letter to the Department of Development of the Government of Aragon. for the situation. 125 años de vida, Castellote ansía que su túnel vea la luz, al fin, en su interior.