Transportation in Asturias
The Principality of Asturias has 5,000 kms (3106 miles) of roads, of which 300 (186 miles) are highways and expressways, 92 % of them toll free. The Autopista de la Plata (expressway) links Asturias with the center of the peninsula and Madrid while the Autovía del Cantábrico (highway) links the Region with Galicia and France.
Two railway networks cover the fundamental axes of the geography of Asturias, from north to south reaching the plateau with a layout of conventional width (RENFE) and from east to west with a network of narrow gauge track (FEVE) that travels the Cantabrian coast. In addition, the High-speed Train between Asturias and Madrid is under construction.
The Asturias airport connects the region with the main Spanish capital cities with regular daily flights. There are also flights to London, Paris, Brussels and Berlin and regular flights are currently being created to other European cities. The passenger flow has been increasing progressively and in 2007, exceeded 1,500,000 passengers.
Asturias has two large commercial ports near Gijón and Avilés, with complementary facilities and jetties specializing in steel and energy traffic, handling of solid bulk and goods in general.
The port of El Musel, in Gijón, is currently immersed in an expansion process that will conclude in 2008. This will increase the draft for the simultaneous unloading of three 230,000-tons bulk carriers. The installation of a natural gas distribution plant is also being contemplated.
This expansion project transforms Asturias into a region with an immense capacity for inter-modal transport, which allows it to lead European Motorways of the Sea projects. El Musel offers ample and specific infrastructures, such as the terminals for solid and liquid bulks, steel products, cements, etc. In addition, it offers regular connections for containers traffic to 190 destinations in 100 countries. Rotterdam, Felixtowe, Veracruz, Havana and New York are but a few of the main destinations.
The Avilés port has specific fittings for direct unloading to tanks for tar, asphalt products, ammonia, fuel-oil, alumina, etc.
It has 6 cargo docks, 2 private and 4 public, and an expansion project is being carried out in the right margen.
