Detailed Design for the Mediterranean Motorway (Autovía del Mediterráneo). Muro de Alcoy – Albaida Mountain Pass Stretch, Alicante and Valencia (Spain)

General Directorate of Roads (Ministry of Development)

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DESIGN
Length: 8.0 km
Design Speed: 80 km/h
Trunk Road Cross-section:
- Carriageways: 2 x 7.00 m
- Central reserve: 2.00 m
- Outer shoulders: 2.50 m
- Inner shoulders: 1.50 m
ADTTotal2007: 14,360 vehicles/day
%heavy2007: 13,00%
 

DESIGN DESCRIPTION
There are three motorway corridors between Valencia and Alicante: the one where the AP-7 toll motorway is along the coast (longest), the central one along the A-7 motorway (roughest terrain) and the interior one comprising several motorways (flattest). The stretch encompassed by this design is part of the central corridor and is located at the Albaida mountain pass, which separates the two provinces.
It is a high-capacity road with two separate carriageways, with a design speed of 80 km/h. The main problem is the terrain.

The following are special points on the alignment:

• The design starts at K.P. 0+000 with a curve with a 540-m radius, following the alignment of the previous stretch (Cocentaina-Muro de Alcoy, code: 12-A-4010), in the design stage.
• Interchange 1. Albaida mountain pass interchange. This is a dumbbell interchange with a flyover comprising a special structure with inclined piers. The interchange provides a connection to adjoining properties.
• Wall 1. Located between K.P. 5+460 and K.P. 5+5570 along the right side of the motorway, it is intended to prevent runoff from the embankment over the bed of the Naiximent River. Hmax 14 m. It is a reinforced concrete cantilever wall with a continuous footing.
• Viaduct 1: 108 m long. Maximum height of 16 m.
• Viaduct 2: 180 m long. Maximum height of 15 m.
• Interchange 2. This is a somewhat special dumbbell interchange, because both parts of the dumbbell are on the right side. Therefore, there are two underpasses for crossing the motorway (one that already existed). The interchange revamped the existing connection with the Albaida access and with the CV-617 road to Adzaneta de Albaida. A new large-radius roundabout was designed, which made use of an existing structure over the river. This roundabout generated a new structure with a single 36.60-m span, supported on reinforced earth abutments.
• Wall 2. Located between K.P. 7+800 and K.P. 7+840 along the right side of the motorway, it is intended to prevent runoff from the embankment over a road. It is a reinforced concrete cantilever wall with a continuous footing, Hmax 4.27 m.