The AP7 will reduce the maximum speed on several stretches within a few months

Motorways and dual carriageways generally have a maximum speed limit of 120 km/h. On some of these roads, we can find stretches where this figure is slightly reduced and a lower maximum speed is set. This is due to areas with a high accident rate, tunnels and roadworks, for example. Within a few months, one of the busiest motorways in the country will have three new zones with a reduced maximum speed.

The AP7 has already celebrated its first year as a motorway free of tolls, so during this year it has seen traffic on the road increase. Unfortunately, this has led to an increase in fatal accidents. The Generalitat de Catalunya has identified the most dangerous points on the AP7 and has requested a reduction of the maximum speed at those points, seeking to reduce the accident rate.

The AP7, under scrutiny

In total, the Generalitat has requested that this reduction of the maximum speed to 100 and 80 km/h be applied to 10 stretches of the AP7. However, that figure has been cut to three points where the limit will be reduced to those values. Specifically, a speed limit reduction to 100 km/h will be applied to the stretch between Calafat and L’Ampolla, in the province of Tarragona. On this stretch the maximum speed will be 100 km/h.

This reduction in maximum speed will also be applied to the stretch between El Papiol and Montornés, in the province of Barcelona. Finally, the stretch that connects with the N-II at Orriols, in the province of Girona, will have speed limits of 100 and 80 km/h.

These will not be the only changes to the layout of the AP7 in Catalonia. In addition to these changes, a variable-speed section, controlled by an intelligent system, has been announced between El Papiol and Montornés, along with the installation of a section speed camera between Altafulla and Constantí, in Tarragona.

With all these measures, the aim is to reduce the incidence of fatal accidents on this road, which accounts for 17% of all accidents occurring on Catalan roads. For the time being, these will be the only exceptions to the speed limits on motorways and dual carriageways planned. For now, these limits are not expected to be applied to other stretches or expressways elsewhere in the country.