Winston Churchill Avenue (Gibraltar)
Winston Churchill Avenue | |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
| Length | 1.5 km (0.93 mi) |
| Restrictions |  Closed to regular traffic atGibraltar International Airport |
| Major junctions | |
| South end | Smith Dorrien Road & Corral Road |
| North end | Kingsway |
| Location | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Overseas territory | Gibraltar |
Winston Churchill Avenue is an arterial road in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, connecting it with Spain. Once the customs are crossed, the avenue becomes the dual carriageway (Spanish: Autovía) CA-34 (former national road N-351).
Description
The northern end of the road starts at Gibraltar's border with Spain and is bifurcated by Gibraltar International Airport at Victoria Stadium, which is Gibraltar's major sporting venue. The road intersects the airport's runway at surface level; movable barricades close when aircraft land or take off. In 2009, the Government of Gibraltar announced that a new highway will be built in order to avoid motor vehicles crossing the runway, which caused congestion. On 31 March 2023, the new road, a dual carriageway named Kingsway links the customs checkpoint with Devil's Tower Road, crossing the east end of the airport runway underground, through a 350-metre tunnel.[1][2][3] Runway access is now closed to everyday road traffic but is still available for exceptional, specific, or emergency use as well as pedestrians, cyclists and mobility scooters although an alternative subway is provided.[4]
Security barrier at the former intersection of Gibraltar Airport runway and Winston Churchill Avenue (looking north)
References
- ^ "OHL construirá la nueva autovía Gibraltar-España por 35,78 millones de euros". El Economista (in Spanish). Europa Press. 21 January 2009.
- ^ "KINGSWAY INAUGURATED – 187/2023". Government of Gibraltar. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
- ^ "Kingsway is now open & operational". Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
- ^ "Airport Tunnel to open on 31st March 2023 - 177/2023". Government of Gibraltar. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
The road from the new roundabout at Devil's Tower Road to the East Gate roundabout is approximately 1.2km in length, including approximately 350 metres of covered tunnel.