N-622 road (Álava)

The N-622 (known unofficially as the Autovía de Altube[2]) is a road in Álava, Basque Country, Spain. It links Vitoria-Gasteiz with the Autopista AP-68 at Altube [es]. Together with the AP-68 motorway, it constitutes the most important road link between Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz.[3] The whole road is a dual carriageway, with parts of it classified as autovía.

Autovía N-622 shield}}
Autovía N-622
Map
Route information
Length19.35 km[1] (12.02 mi)
Existed1978–present
Major junctions
FromVitoria-Gasteiz
ToAltube [es]
Location
CountrySpain
Autonomous
community
Basque Country
ProvinceÁlava
Highway system

History

The road opened gradually in 1978 after more than two years of works. The Murgia bypass was opened in mid-June, followed a few weeks later by the stretch from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Arangiz.[4] The Letona-Zarate stretch was opened partially (only one of the carriageways) on 22 August, while the Arangiz-Zarate stretch followed in early September.[5] On 14 October the last remaining section of the road was inaugurated, with the opening of the second Aiurdin tunnel.[6]

On 3 June 2009, the interchange with the new AP-1 motorway at Etxabarri Ibiña opened.[7] Traffic from the AP-1 towards the A-1 motorway uses the N-622 from Etxabarri Ibiña to the cloverleaf interchange with the A-1 near Vitoria-Gasteiz. As a result, that stretch suffers from recurrent traffic jams, particularly in the summer.[8] In 2022, a study to improve the traffic flow in the area was announced.[9]

References