Atlantic Motorway, motorway from La Coruña to Tuy with branch to Ferrol and Vigo (Spain)
The Atlantic Motorway, locally known as the AP-9, is a major highway spanning over 200 kilometers across Galicia, connecting cities from Ferrol in the north to the Portuguese border near Tui, passing through A Coruña, Santiago de Compostela, Pontevedra, and Vigo. The road features multiple lanes, bridges, tunnels, and service areas with restrooms, food outlets, and fuel stations distributed along the route.
Construction of the Atlantic Motorway began in the 1970s, with the first section opening in 1979 and additional segments added over the following decades to link more cities across the region. The highway dramatically reduced travel time between major towns, significantly improving connectivity and economic development throughout Galicia.
Restrooms, food outlets, and fuel stations are available at several service areas distributed along the route, ideal for longer drives or stretching your legs. The well-signposted route with modern traffic management systems makes navigation straightforward, and emergency phones are positioned throughout the highway.
The Rande Bridge, one of the highway's most notable structures, was once among the world's longest cable-stayed bridges when completed and spans a wide bay with views of passing ships. This bridge has become a symbol of the region's infrastructure achievements and remains a striking example of modern engineering.
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