The Ministry of Development, Local Cooperation and Fire Prevention of the Principality of Asturias has awarded for a total of 2.419.929 euros the installation of digital screens in the mountain passes of the region’s road network. The company API Mobility SA will be in charge of carrying out the placement of 114 information screens which will be distributed throughout 32 mountain passes located more than 800 meters altitude in different councils of the Principality.
This new infrastructure will make it possible to offer information in real time on the conditions of high mountain roads, especially during the validity of the winter road planproviding drivers with warnings about possible incidents such as snow accumulation, the need for chains, risks of avalanches or road closures. The screens will be located both in the heights of the ports as in the lower part of each of them, guaranteeing that travelers can receive the information with sufficient advance notice.
With this project, the Ministry of Development aims to improve road safety on high mountain roads, facilitating a more efficient information management and allowing drivers to make informed decisions about road conditions in real time. The new digital signage will be installed in high mountain areas of councils like Vegadeo, Boal, Tineo, Grandas de Salime, Cangas del Narcea, Oscos, Taramundiamong others.
The installation of information screens will contribute to optimize communication between the regional government and drivers, allowing a faster management of incidents and improving safety at these points of the road network that, due to their location, are especially susceptible to inclement weather in winter.
Mountain passes and western councils where the screens will be installed
The initiative will cover the following mountain passes and the councils to which they belong:
- Alto de Penouta (Vegadeo/Boal, AS-22)
- Top of the Gorge (Vegadeo/Oscos, AS-27)
- Alto de Bustellán (Tineo, AS-359)
- Alto Casa del Puerto (Tineo, AS-359)
- Lavadoira Heights (Tineo, AS-219)
- Alto de Piedratecha (Tineo, AS-350)
- Alto del Acebo (Salime Grandas, AS-12)
- Port of Connio (Cangas del Narcea/Ibias, AS-348)
- Well of Dead Women (Cangas del Narcea, AS-29)
- Access to the Rañadoiro tunnel (Cangas del Narcea, AS-15)
- Port of Leitariegos (Cangas del Narcea, AS-213)
- Alto La Bobia (Boal, AS-361)
- Port of El Couso (Oscos/Taramundi, AS-394)
With this important improvement in road infrastructure, the Principality of Asturias takes a step towards greater safety on mountain roadscrucial for mobility in the winter months, when adverse weather conditions can put drivers at risk.
How do you envision the integration of community feedback in the ongoing improvement of the information provided by these screens?
1. Can you please introduce yourselves and tell us about your involvement in the installation of digital screens in the mountain passes of Asturias?
2. What were some of the challenges faced during the planning and implementation of this project, and how were they overcome?
3. How do these digital screens improve the safety of drivers on mountain roads amid inclement weather conditions?
4. How will the real-time information provided on the screens help drivers make informed decisions about their travel plans?
5. Can you shed light on the specific locations chosen for the installation of these screens, and what criteria were considered in making those decisions?
6. What are the potential long-term benefits that the government envisions from the installation of these screens?
7. How do these screens complement or replace existing methods of communicating road conditions to drivers, such as radio or social media updates?
8. As a follow-up to the previous question, do you think there is still a need for traditional methods of road condition updates alongside these new digital screens, and if so, how can they be effectively integrated?
9. In your opinion, what role do local councils play in ensuring the smooth operation and maintenance of these screens once they are installed?
10. How can the government further improve upon this initiative to enhance road safety and provide better information to drivers in the future?
