Arlaban Tunnel Breakthrough Unites Basque Provinces in SpainBoring of the 3,377 m-long Arlaban tunnel (now named Isuzkitza) was completed on 28th December, 2006 thus uniting 1,300 metres that belong to the province of Alava and 2,077 metres on Gipuzkoa's territory. The union between the two ends of the 3,377 m-long tunnel, which crosses the Arlaban Pass and is the longest in the Basque provinces, paves the way to the final construction stage of the Eibar-Vitoria motorway AP-1. The tunnel will save the natural barrier that historically has separated the two territories of Alava and Gipuzkoa in the region of the Upper Deba. Tunnelling was completed within schedule, so that the 16 km section from Arrasate to Isuzkitza will be in operation at the beginning of 2008. The AP-1 has been already in operation from Eibar to Arrasate for a year and a half. Excavation of the tunnel has been performed by means of drilling and blasting. Crews progressed a few metres every day during more that two years of work. It is the left, Vitoria-bound tunnel that has holed through, while there is still 200 metres to bore to break through the right tunnel, which is expected in the next weeks. Both tubes are cross-connected by three vehicular passages and eight pedestrian connections. Crews have been involved in the project since September 2004, working in three shifts, seven days a week. Five hundred workers are working on the two sections of the AP-1 (Arrasate-Eskoriatza and Eskoriatza-Isuzkitza) still under construction. When tunnelling is finished, the excavated material will be mucked away, the roadway will be built and the equipment and safety outfit (energy supply, lighting, ventilation, public address system, radio coverage and fire fighting equipment) will be installed. The Arlaban tunnel will be equipped with the most modern control systems, which will make it one of the safest tunnels in Europe, despite its length. Along the 3,377 metres of tunnel, 216 loudspeakers will be installed, as well as 48 fans, 55 SOS posts, 60 variable message signs and 61 monitoring cameras, that will be supervised from a control centre located in Ondartza (Bergara). In addition, the tunnel will include a vehicle clearance control system.The Arlaban tunnel is an engineering feat that has been developed by Bidegi, Gipuzkoa's road agency, although its financing is ensured by the Gipuzkoa and Alava provinces. The investment will be recouped from a toll charge of EUR5.5. Users will save 25 minutes driving from Vitoria to Eibar. Click here and es/60. Visit www.bidegi.net/esp/documents/CALETUNELDEISUZKITZAcast.pdf and http://tunelarlaban.net 01-02/07.