Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente has unveiled a 1.629 million euro extraordinary plan to improve surfaces on state roads from 2027 to 2031. The initiative adds to the 1.800 million euros allocated annually for conserving the 26.500 km state road network. Puente acknowledged a structural deficit of 5.600 million euros in maintenance.
Óscar Puente, Spain's Transport Minister, presented the plan at a forum hosted by the Colegio de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos. "The diagnosis is done and we have identified where intervention is most needed, with 5,000 km requiring immediate action," he explained. The programme, on top of the annual 1.800 million euros, allocates 185 million euros in 2027 and 550 million in 2029, the largest tranche.
Puente noted that the state network is just 16% of total roads but carries over 50% of traffic. He conceded that per-km maintenance investment has been insufficient recently, creating the 5.600 million euro deficit. "Failing to invest in conservation just defers the cost," he warned, praising current 1.800 million euros as double pre-2018 levels.
The plan will upgrade 374 technical posts and create 143 new ones, producing 18,500 jobs, a 1.200 million euro GDP boost and over 400 million in revenue. Puente forecasted heavy investments for 2027-2031: 13,000 million euros for Aena airports, 7,000 million for Puertos del Estado, 6,000 million annually for rail and 5,000 million yearly for roads.
At the forum, Colegio president Miguel Ángel Carrillo called for more conservation spending, citing a total 13,500 million euro road deficit. AEC's Juan Lazcano highlighted 34,000 km needing urgent fixes. Seopan and Anci representatives welcomed the plan but sought stable financing models and long-term planning.
