Infrastructure

High-Speed Rail to Almeria Faces New Challenge After Roman Cemetery Found in Lorca

Published December 22, 2025 | Category: Infrastructure

TL;DR: A late Roman cemetery discovered during AVE tunnelling works in Lorca adds a new layer of complexity to the high-speed rail to Almeria. Archaeological documentation is ongoing, once again placing Lorca at the centre of the final challenges facing the project.

This discovery affects the progress of the high-speed rail to Almeria, a project that remains central to the province’s future connectivity.

Roman Cemetery Discovered During AVE Works Adds New Challenge to High-Speed Rail to Almeria

The project focuses on high-speed rail to Almeria and its integration into the national AVE network.

The long-awaited arrival of high-speed rail to Almeria has faced multiple technical and administrative challenges over the years. The latest obstacle has emerged in Lorca, where archaeological remains have been identified during works linked to the AVE rail integration project.

During ongoing construction works connected to the AVE tunnelling and rail integration in Lorca — a critical point on the Almeria–Murcia section of the Mediterranean Corridor — archaeologists have confirmed the presence of a large late Roman cemetery dating from between the 4th and 6th centuries AD.

Archaeological teams have been active on the site since May 2025, after the remains were detected between the future San Diego station and the entrance to the tunnel where the railway will run underground. While such discoveries are not unusual in historically rich areas, they inevitably introduce additional procedural steps before construction can continue.

What Was Found at the Site

The site corresponds to a late Roman necropolis of considerable size. Burials are marked not by stone headstones, but by modest earth mounds, occasionally indicated by a single stone at the head of the grave.

Among the discoveries are iron nails used to assemble wooden coffins, as well as small personal items and burial objects. According to heritage specialists, the graves are generally austere, reflecting the customs and social conditions of the period.

Why Lorca Matters for the AVE to Almeria

This situation is part of the wider story of the planned high-speed rail to Almeria, a project that has faced multiple technical, environmental and administrative challenges. Coordination with Adif Alta Velocidad will be essential to ensure that heritage protection requirements are respected while allowing the works to move forward.

Lorca has long been regarded as one of the most sensitive sections of the high-speed rail route linking Almeria and Murcia. While other stretches of the line have progressed steadily, the integration of the railway through Lorca has repeatedly proven complex.

Urban constraints, flood-risk management and heritage protection have all converged in this area. The current works are among the last major sections to begin on the Almeria–Murcia corridor, making any additional intervention particularly significant.

With official timelines already tight for the arrival of AVE services to Almeria, developments in Lorca continue to draw close attention from both technical and regional planning perspectives.

Heritage Protection Before Construction Resumes

The immediate objective of the archaeological intervention is to fully document the necropolis. Authorities have stressed that it is still too early to determine the precise impact of the findings on construction schedules, as excavation and analysis are still ongoing.

Once documentation is complete, the results will be reviewed by the regional heritage authorities of Murcia, who must authorise the continuation of works at this specific location. In this stretch, the railway will continue to run at surface level just before entering the underground section.

Coordination with rail infrastructure managers will be essential to ensure that heritage protection requirements are respected while allowing the project to move forward.

Not the First Archaeological Discovery

The Roman cemetery uncovered during the current phase is not an isolated case. Earlier AVE works in Lorca also revealed a Roman villa dating back to the 1st century AD in the La Hoya area, underlining the archaeological sensitivity of the corridor.

These repeated encounters with history highlight the challenges of delivering major infrastructure projects in regions with deep and continuous human settlement.

Broader Challenges Beyond Archaeology

Archaeology is not the only factor influencing progress in Lorca. Local demands for additional flood-prevention infrastructure, including the construction of a new viaduct, have also been identified as potential sources of delay.

Railway experts have repeatedly pointed to Lorca as the main unresolved bottleneck on the route, citing the combination of engineering, environmental and heritage constraints as uniquely complex.

Despite these difficulties, the strategic objective remains unchanged: to complete the high-speed rail to Almeria linking the province with Murcia that will finally integrate Almeria into Spain’s national AVE network.

What This Means for the 2027 Timeline

Official planning continues to reference 2027 as the target year for the arrival of AVE services in Almeria. However, progress in Lorca will play a decisive role in determining whether that timeline can be met.

The discovery of a Roman cemetery beneath modern rail infrastructure serves as a reminder that large-scale projects often advance in layers — engineering, history and urban planning intersecting at the same point.

For Almeria, the situation once again highlights that the final kilometres of the AVE route depend not only on track laying, but on careful coordination between transport authorities, heritage protection and local realities.

Interested in how major infrastructure projects are shaping connectivity across the province? Browse the latest updates in our Infrastructure section.

Infrastructure

€5.4 million investment approved for new wastewater collectors in Balanegra, Berja and Dalias

Published January 6, 2026 | Category: Infrastructure

TL;DR: A public investment of nearly €5.4 million has been approved for the construction of new wastewater collectors in Balanegra, Berja and Dalias. The project will modernise ageing sanitation networks and benefit around 18,000 residents across the three municipalities.

€5.4 million investment approved for new wastewater collectors in western Almeria

The Andalusian regional government has approved a new infrastructure project aimed at upgrading wastewater collection systems in Balanegra, Berja and Dalias, in the western part of Almeria province. The investment, valued at €5,470,980, forms part of ongoing efforts to modernise sanitation infrastructure and improve environmental management.

The approved works include the construction of new wastewater collectors designed to address long-standing issues linked to ageing pipelines, limited capacity and system saturation. The new collectors will group multiple discharge points and connect them to existing networks, ensuring wastewater is properly conveyed to local treatment facilities.

In total, the project foresees the installation of close to ten kilometres of new collector pipes. Once completed, the upgraded network is expected to improve operational reliability, reduce the risk of overflow incidents and optimise wastewater treatment before discharge.

The works are scheduled with an estimated execution period of 12 months. According to regional authorities, the investment will directly benefit around 18,000 inhabitants living across the three municipalities.

The collector project was originally declared of general interest in 2010, highlighting the long-standing nature of the infrastructure challenges now being addressed. With the contract now signed, the initiative moves from planning into execution after more than a decade.

Looking for updates on public works, utilities and infrastructure projects across the province? Browse the latest stories in our Infrastructure section.

Infrastructure

AP-7 Cartagena–Vera toll prices rise by 2% in 2026

Published January 5, 2026 | Category: Infrastructure

TL;DR: The AP-7 toll motorway between Vera and Cartagena has updated its prices from January 1, 2026, with a 2% rise. The road remains free every night from 00:00 to 06:00.

AP-7 Cartagena–Vera toll prices rise by 2% in 2026, with free overnight travel still in place

Drivers using the AP-7 Cartagena–Vera toll motorway (a key route for Almeria’s Levante area) are paying slightly more from January 1, 2026, after a 2% tariff update for state-managed toll roads. The section is operated by SEITT and connects the Vera area with Murcia province, carrying a mix of tourism traffic and regular logistics flows.

One detail that remains important for regular users is the overnight free-access window: the AP-7 Cartagena–Vera continues to be toll-free every day between 00:00 and 06:00. During charged hours, tolls apply from 06:00 to 24:00, as reflected in the updated 2026 tariff sheet published for the route.

For quick reference, here are a few examples for light vehicles during charged hours (06:00–24:00). Prices vary depending on payment method (telepeaje vs card/cash):

Journey (light vehicles)	Telepeaje	Cash / card
Vera → Cuevas del Almanzora	€1.25	€1.40
Vera → Pulpí	€2.40	€2.70
Vera → Aguilas	€3.65	€4.10
Vera → Cartagena	€10.15	€11.35

The updated price list for the full corridor (including intermediate exits) is available in SEITT’s published document: Tarifas AP-7 Cartagena–Vera 2026 (PDF). The tariff framework for these state-operated roads is also reflected in the related BOE publication covering the Council of Ministers agreement on applicable tariffs.

For residents and businesses in the Levante of Almeria, this corridor remains a strategic high-capacity option for reaching Murcia and beyond — especially for early-morning or overnight journeys where the toll-free window can make a meaningful difference for frequent users and the transport of agricultural goods.

Want to follow road projects, upgrades and transport changes across the province? Browse the latest updates in Infrastructure.

Infrastructure

Roquetas de Mar tenders new urban transport service with €15 million, ten-year contract

Published January 3, 2026 | Category: Infrastructure

TL;DR: Roquetas de Mar has approved a ten-year tender for a new urban transport service with a total budget exceeding €15 million. The decision signals a long-term reset of local public transport rather than a short-term service update, with implications for daily mobility, car dependency and access across the municipality.

Roquetas de Mar tenders a new urban transport service with a €15 million, ten-year contract

The municipality of Roquetas de Mar has approved the tender process for a new urban transport service, committing more than €15 million over a ten-year period. Rather than a routine renewal, the length and scale of the contract point to a structural rethink of how public transport functions within the town.

Urban bus services rarely attract attention unless they fail. Yet decisions taken at this level quietly shape daily life: how residents move between neighbourhoods, how dependent households remain on private cars, and how accessible services are for people without permanent access to a vehicle.

A long-term contract for a new urban transport service

A ten-year concession is a deliberate choice. It provides operational stability for the future operator but also locks in a transport model that will influence mobility patterns well into the next decade. Short contracts tend to prioritise cost control; long ones allow for route restructuring, fleet renewal and gradual adjustments to demand.

In a municipality with year-round residents, seasonal population swings and a dispersed urban layout, this kind of horizon matters. Public transport in Roquetas de Mar is not only about commuting, but also about access to healthcare, education, administrative services and commercial areas.

What this signals about urban mobility

The approved budget reflects more than operating costs. It suggests an acknowledgement that urban transport is a core municipal service rather than an auxiliary one. In practical terms, this opens the door to changes in route coverage, service frequency and vehicle allocation, although no specific operational details have yet been published.

For residents who rely on buses — including older populations, younger residents without cars and seasonal workers — the effectiveness of the future service will be felt immediately. For others, the impact may be indirect: reduced congestion in certain areas or shifts in parking pressure if public transport becomes a more viable alternative.

No operator selected yet

At this stage, the decision concerns the tender itself, not the appointment of an operator. The next phase will involve the publication of technical and administrative requirements, followed by a competitive bidding process. Until that process is completed, no firm conclusions can be drawn about vehicles, timetables or route changes.

The transition from the current service model to the new concession will depend on the outcome of that process and any overlap period required to ensure continuity. As with most infrastructure contracts, the practical effects will emerge gradually rather than overnight.

Why this matters beyond transport

Urban transport decisions are often read narrowly as mobility issues, but they also reflect broader planning priorities. A long-term commitment of this size suggests that Roquetas de Mar is positioning itself as a consolidated urban area rather than a purely car-oriented coastal town.

Whether that intention translates into meaningful improvements will depend on execution. The framework is now set; the effectiveness of the future service will determine whether public transport becomes a genuine option for daily movement or remains a secondary choice.

For more reporting on public transport, urban planning and long-term infrastructure decisions across the province, explore the Infrastructure section.