The AS-III Highway: A Ghost Project in Asturias
The AS-III Highway, colloquially nicknamed the Highway of Oblivion, stands as one of the most representative examples of abandoned infrastructure in Spain. Originally designed to decongest traffic in the heart of Asturias, its construction was halted indefinitely, leaving behind a surreal landscape of unfinished works 🛣️.
Environmental Conflicts and Legal Obstacles
The road project faced intense opposition due to its potential ecological impacts on local ecosystems, generating citizen protests and prolonged legal processes. Land expropriations became another significant hurdle, with numerous property owners resisting ceding their land and greatly complicating the progress of the works.
Main Identified Problems:- Potential damage to protected ecosystems and natural habitats
- Prolonged legal conflicts over land expropriations
- Lack of political and social consensus on the project
What promised to be a solution to traffic has become a monument to poor planning and unresolved conflicts
Ghost Structures and Million-Dollar Costs
Imposing concrete viaducts and large-scale bridges rise above Asturian valleys, ending abruptly in rural areas with no connection to the main network. These pharaonic works, which consumed millions of euros in public funds, create scenes that seem taken from an urban dystopia 🏗️.
Characteristics of the Abandonment:- Road structures that suddenly end in open fields
- Illogical connections to secondary roads with no practical use
- Multi-million euro investment labeled as an example of terrible planning
An Uncertain Future for Asturian Mobility
While Asturian drivers continue to suffer daily traffic congestion, the highway designed to relieve it remains a silent testament to bureaucracy and lost opportunities. The final irony lies in the fact that this infrastructure, conceived to connect, now perfectly symbolizes the disconnect between planning and execution in public works 💔.