For those that go on the N332, you will have been quite relieved when works started some years back on the widening of the Benidorm section. It is used by thousands daily, and more so since the toll rates went up on the AP7. Many now use it as an alternative to get to and from the airport, time wise there is hardly anything in it - I always use the N332 and save myself about 6 euros on a return trip. The original project started in 2009 with an estimated cost of 38.7 million euros.

The busy stretch between Carrefour and the AP7 Benidorm turnoff is in the process of being widened to 2 lanes each way - its certainly needed. Every so often you see workmen busy at work and some sections appear to be completed. There is a contraflow at the La Nucia turnoff already, and both lanes are using part of the newly tarmaced segment.

Turnoff to take N332 back to Benidorm from Airport

However, and there´s always a however, at a press conference yesterday in Benidorm, it was announced that there is no budget left for the completion! The initial forecast for 2013 was 6.1 million euros which has now been reduced to 2.2 million. Of that it is uncertain if some has to be used to pay outstanding debts to the construction company for various certificates which have already been issued but not paid for and work already completed.

The PSOE senator for the Province of Alicante, Encarna Llinares believes that the government will freeze any further work being carried out. No more money will be allocated till the 2015 budget (8.9 million euros) and 2016 (10.5 million euros) - paralyzing progress on an important road infrastructure. In response, Benidorm Mayror Agustin Navarro announced that the municipal government will request a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Development to see if they can "amend the budgets".... sounds like some serious handshaking needs to be done in order to get this project back on track in the near future.

The road is a major artery to Benidorm and it is important to have the works completed as quickly as possible... at this rate it will be another 5 years at least. Similarly works on the Alfaz roundabout seem to have slowed down too - there are still "temporary" traffic lights on the N332 at the Alfaz turnoff nearly 2 years on. The worse part is that they stay on 24 hours a day and at 3am, when there are hardly any cars you can be waiting for 5 minutes for them to change, yet can see miles ahead that there are no cars on the road. And even worse than that, it costs the taxpayer 60,000 euros per year to maintain them.

What is also desperately needed is a bypass on the N332 in Altea, especially on a Tuesday which is market day. My advice is stay well away from the area on Tuesday, or at least until after 2pm!