Sacyr : The O Pino Interchange (Pontevedra) receives proxime accesit prize in the San Telmo Award

10/05/2016

The Professional Association of Civil Engineers of Galicia awarded the O Pino interchange project (in Pontevedra), constructed in part by Sacyr Construcción, with proxime accesit in the San Telmo Award.

Every two years, this award distinguishes the best engineering works in Galicia according to technical, territorial and construction quality and according to a project's impact on the quality of life of citizens of Galicia.

The redesign of the O Pino interchange (N-550 k.p. 124.3 and PO-10), promoted by the State Highway Authority in Galicia, 'is not a major project, financially, but it is highly complex and will mean improvement in the quality of life of the citizens, given that it is used daily by over 50,000 vehicles,' members of the jury indicated.

The jury was composed of seventeen prestigious professionals of Civil Engineering in Galicia, chaired by Ricardo Babío Arcay, Head of the professional association, who highlighted 'the great quality of the works presented to the San Telmo Award this year and the professionalism of the presentations made.'

The committee underscored the technical and construction quality of the awarded projects, as well as the improvement they represent for the quality of life of citizens of Galicia, both economically and from an environmental point of view. 'Moreover, as a novelty we exhibited these projects so that everyday citizens could vote for their favorite,' explained the Head of the Professional Association, who noted that 'over 700 people voted through a mobile application, thereby becoming another jury member of the San Telmo Award.'

Redesign of the O Pino interchange (N-550 k.p. 124.3 and PO-10 k.p. 1+300) improves mobility in the Pontevedra metropolitan area

The construction project consisted in redesign of the existing O Pino interchange, formed by two traffic circles connected to the N-550 motorway by a road with separate roadways and two lanes in each direction. The city was in dire need of this action due to its high traffic volume, with over 50,000 vehicles per day.

Sacyr Construcción was in charge of the final phase of construction. Highlights of Sacyr's actions include the overpass over the PO-10 (formed by three U beams per span, with a length of 37 and 30 meters, respectively), the concrete wall of the exit branch towards Vigo, the stone walls enclosing the abutments of the overpass over the PO-10, urban development work (sidewalks, railings, lighting and the conditioning of green spaces), paving, horizontal and vertical signage and barriers.

This action, which represented an investment of €11.9 million and took place between April 2010 and July 2013, not only took into account vehicle drivers, but it also ensured pedestrian and cyclist access in the area. Thus, pedestrian accesses were built, formed by sidewalks and a 5-metre wide pedestrian/cyclist path that crosses the infrastructure of the intersection in the North-South direction via two underpasses.

The works, in addition to providing a new and improved image to the main southern access to the city of Pontevedra, also represents an example of coordination between all activities and all levels involved in traffic management, given that the works were executed while keeping the flow of traffic open. The different sections of the project were commissioned gradually and according to a planned schedule.