Bizkaia, 13 October 2026. The La Salve-Txorierri section of the Artxanda Tunnels will be closed to traffic for five months starting on 2 November in order to undergo a comprehensive rehabilitation programme. The announcement was made this morning by the Provincial Councillor for Infrastructure and Territorial Development, Carlos Alzaga, during a committee session of the General Assemblies of Bizkaia.
The closure will allow works to be carried out along the tunnel's entire 1,220-metre length, which is used daily by more than 13,500 light vehicles and 420 heavy vehicles. The project has a budget of more than €20.6 million.
Due to the nature of the works, the tunnel will need to remain completely closed throughout the five-month construction period. Work will be carried out in morning, afternoon and night shifts. This will allow the project to proceed without traffic inside the tunnel and under the safety conditions required for its execution.
The works will focus primarily on repairing the identified structural damage and eliminating existing water infiltration. Technical studies have found that 54% of the inspected surface shows defects requiring intervention, including cracks, material loss, localised deterioration and damage caused by the continuous presence of water. During the works, the affected structural elements will be repaired and reinforced, infiltration issues will be addressed, and various components of the infrastructure will be renewed.
The Artxanda Tunnels have been in service since 2002 and connect Bilbao with Txorierri, Bilbao Airport and the Bizkaia Technology Park. The infrastructure as a whole carries close to 30,000 vehicles every day.
Impact on mobility and Bizkaibus services
The closure of the La Salve-Txorierri section will affect journeys that normally use this tunnel and will also have an impact on certain public transport services, particularly some Bizkaibus routes. Before the closure comes into effect, the Provincial Department of Transport, Mobility and Tourism will provide detailed information on traffic impacts, alternative routes and any changes that may affect public transport services during the works period.
