Free Motorway AP-7 Spain
If you travel to Albir by car from Valencia and the north the chances are that you will be driving along the AP-7 motorway. This used o be a toll road. At the beginning of 2020 the tolls were removed. The road all the way from Alicante to Valencia is now FREE.
It was thought that this would increase traffic and make the motorway more difficult to use. Another thought was that if more traffic is using the motorway then this would ease the use on the N332. This reduce the traffic in built up areas such as Altea. In truth not much has changed. Most traffic in the area are local journeys. There are not many entry/exit points for the motorway.
If you have had a long travel from the north on the A7 (AP-7) then one of the big moments as you drive nearer to Albir is passing Calpe. You see the Peñon De Ifach and you know you are nearly there.
Tunel De Mascarat
After Calpe is the Tunel de Mascarat. Rather than crossing of the Mascarat canyon like the N332 and train line that use of a number of tunnels and bridges through the steep mountain terrain that creates the boundary between Altea (Marina Baixa) and Calpe (Marina Alta). The AP-7 passes just to the north and round, dug straight through the mountain.
Travel to Albir
Once you enter the darkness of the tunnel you are eagerly awaiting the glimpse of daylight from the other end. As you draw nearer and pop out in daylight (or moonlight if it is a night time drive) you are greeted with the wonderful view of the Altea Bay stretching all the way to Albir and the Sierra Gelada. With the highrises of Benidorm peaking over the brow.
This is when you know you have arrived.
Author: Admin
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