Under the Road III Andalusian Congress, the Minister of Public Works and Transport of the Board calls for more state investment for Andalusian roads

Seville, October 7 2003.- "The commitments made at the time by the Government's road infrastructure with the Andalusian Autonomous Community does not appear to be achieved with investment levels approved in the State Budget for 2004". As he stated this morning at the end of the opening ceremony of the III Congress Andaluz Road, Concepción Gutiérrez, Minister of Public Works and Transport of the Junta de Andalucía.

In this sense, Gutierrez pointed out the need to increase budgetary allocations to the Andalusian roads, otherwise "it will be difficult to undertake the actions envisaged in the region under the Infrastructure Plan 2000-2007 the government." And is that "it is essential, for the head of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of the Board, the performance of the railcars state-owned giving access from the coast to the Levant and the interior of the Peninsula speedier, to while being put in place the new road infrastructure in the vicinity of large cities and metropolitan areas in Andalusia, to resolve the necks of most important long-haul traffic from our Community "bottle.

At the regional level, the Minister has referred to various works that currently the Board undertakes in various parts of the road network in charge, noting that his department has now reached a level of budget execution 94%, and stressing stability Andalusian government investment in roads throughout the entire legislature. An effort that is framed "the XXI Century Plan, an agreement between the Administration and the economic and social entities that establishes a clear and sustained budgetary band".

ANOTHER FORM OF "MIMAR" ANDALUSIA

The third edition of the Andalucian Road Congress (COAC), which is being held in Seville from today, Tuesday 7 October, and until next Friday 10, is to study the phenomenon varied from a multidisciplinary perspective. In this sense, one of the issues that will be given special attention affects the impact that infrastructu

ras road causing the surrounding environment, and the techniques and technologies to reduce this condition and even contributing to integrate the road into the landscape harmoniously.

That is why the COAC III appeared as a perfect stage to present a new initiative, the first of its kind developed in Spain in society. This is the map of Middle Environmental Interpretation of Road Network in Andalusia, Andalusia MIMAR acronyms.

In 2001 they were recorded in the State Road Network of Andalusia 102 accidents animal abuse. The 90% occurred in Sites of Community Interest in Special Protection Areas for Birds and nearby natural areas Andalusians. By provinces, roads with the highest hazard for animal abuse were those of Cordoba, Jaen and Almeria, where 54% of claims are concentrated. The species most affected by such accidents are deer, horses and cattle.

They are some of the data contained in the map, which the Minister Concepción Gutiérrez this morning.

This innovative map product comes a few months ago, when the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of the Junta de Andalucía and the Spanish Road Association (AEC) decided to join forces to transfer to paper the concept of road mapping in which environmental issues acquire a nonexistent role in traditional maps.

With this approach, the informative range of MIMAR Andalusia runs from the hazard ratings of the road network in terms of accidents caused by abuse of animals and biodiversity of protected areas crossed by roads, to the level of risk of fire all Andalusian natural areas and greenways network existing in the community. This fact makes MIMAR Andalucia offer a useful tool for users and technicians specialized in roads and environment.

Animals and traffic accidents
Statistics relating to the roads and traffic often forgotten areas, like vehicles, drivers and pedestrians, road are part of the phenomenon. This is the case of animals, especially relevant in the Andalusian that, with 18% of its territory protected, treasures a rich and diverse natural heritage. Intending to show this other side of accident statistics, MIMAR Andalusia offers information on the most affected by the outrages animal species. In this sense, Córdoba, Jaén and Almería concentrated in 2001 more than half of these claims.

The list of animals for injuries lower is headed by deer, horses and cattle, followed by roe deer, wild boars and Iberian lynxes. The case of the latter species, which currently has only 400 copies in Spain, is particularly dramatic, because of the disappearance of lynxes in the past 900 14 years.

Fire and roads
Many of the fires ravaging the forests and fields each year have Spanish as a stage large green areas crossed by roads. In addition, on certain occasions the origin of these fires can be traced to cigarettes and objects thrown from cars.

MIMAR Andalucía provides data on the fire hazard ratings of green areas crossed by roads of this region. A very useful information if you consider that the Andalusian region has 2.095 kilometers of roads that run through Sites of Community Interest, and 945 by Special Protection Areas for Birds.

Andalusia also encompasses half of the 8.000 existing plant species in Spain, which, together with the high summer temperatures, makes it one of the regions with more hectares destroyed by fire. In this regard, in 2001 were recorded in the Andalusian forests fires that destroyed 1.002 6.000 hectares of forested area. By provinces, Seville was the hardest hit.

Greenways
Another innovation that brings under his arm MIMAR Andalucía is the inclusion of the Andalusian greenways network, consisting of a total of 425 kilometers. This type of roads, arising from the rehabilitation of old abandoned routes, are of special interest because they allow reuse the land for agriculture, livestock and tourism.

First edition
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport of the Board and the Spanish Road Association have published a total of 1.000 copies of the map MIMAR Andalusia. In addition, the most relevant information contained therein is collected on the Internet, on a website established for this purpose and in which all stakeholders shall have a suggestion box that will undoubtedly to improve later editions of this new road mapping (www.aecarretera.com/mimar).

From this website, interested parties may request a copy of the map, which will be referred for free until stocks are exhausted.

TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 8 IN THE III COAC

Work sessions tomorrow, Wednesday 8 October, the III Andalusian Congress of Roads will start at 09,00 hours, with a lecture on "The current situation of design and construction firm in Andalusia", given by the Head of Service Roads of the Provincial Delegation of Córdoba of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of the Government of Andalusia, Tomás González de Canales.

At 12,30 hours, the Director General of Roads Board, Jesus Merino, will speak on the A-381 Jerez-Los Barrios, whose works will be visited by the 500 delegates at the congress to 16,30 hours.