A-7 Cancelada residents at wits’ end with traffic and road chaos

Residents of Cancelada, a neighborhood in Estepona, are growing increasingly frustrated with the traffic and road chaos caused by a short one-way stretch on the A-7 motorway. Bel Air, El Paraiso, Paraiso Alto, Riviera Beach and Bahia Azul residents claim that a 500-metre one-way section forces them to loop over a bridge and through the main Cancelada roundabout to reach Marbella.

A Change.org petition, started by the group "La voz de las urbanizaciones" led by resident Brigitte Verhoye, has gathered over 350 signatures. The petition's organizers are not aiming to antagonize Estepona town hall but rather to push for immediate action from the Spanish Ministry of Transport. They propose three practical solutions: a two-way street, a safer treatment of the old exit, and reducing pressure on the main roundabout.

The problem stems from an old 20-meter overbridge that was damaged in early 2021. After the bridge was closed in May, drivers from Estepona to Cancelada had to travel eight kilometres each way, prompting protests from residents. A new crossing opened on August 28, 2021, but this has not fully resolved the issue. Similar incomplete junctions exist nearby, such as Las Hormigas, La Lobilla, and Caleta de Velez.

The issue highlights the challenges of balancing local and national government responsibilities when it comes to road infrastructure.