We are pleased to share good news! The solution developed by Esteyco, along with Geocontrol S.A. and b720 Fermín Vázquez Arquitectos, within the framework of the contract for the drafting of the Basic and Construction Projects tendered by Adif and for which said consortium was awarded, has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Gijón al Norte Society. This allows the team to continue developing this proposal until the next milestone, which is the delivery of the Basic Project.

This is a multidisciplinary project that includes, in addition to the design of the Intermodal Station itself, an expansion of the railway service (including the complete design of the railway infrastructure: platform, track, energy, and security and communications facilities), the reorganization of the surrounding road network, as well as the urban integration of all of the above. Since the station is located in an area with potential flood risk, the project also includes the corresponding hydraulic study and proposal of measures to prevent potential flooding from reaching the station.

The drafting of the project develops the aspects outlined in the Information Study, its precedent. In this development, a series of optimizations have been sought, such as adjustments to the layout that allow the work to be carried out while keeping the railway service operational most of the time, with occasional service interruptions to make connections. This layout adjustment also avoids the demolition of the Príncipe de Asturias Avenue viaduct, an important artery of the city, eliminating the impact on mobility and the other inconveniences associated with its demolition and subsequent reconstruction.

From a railway perspective, the new surface intermodal station, located at the Moreda park level, will integrate Iberian gauge tracks for medium and long-distance, underground Iberian gauge tracks for commuter trains, and metric gauge commuter tracks. The layout developed by Esteyco represents an improvement in the station’s capacity, facilitates exchanges, and involves a smaller footprint in the Moreda park. This allows for the future surface bus station to be located there. Additionally, the connection of the underground commuter track to the already constructed metrotrén tunnel will be carried out, keeping the current Sanz Crespo station operational until the new infrastructure is put into service. The connection is proposed via a tunnel, aiming to minimize the impact on groundwater in the area.

The proposed station layout presents a clear and intuitive distribution of spaces, with an organization of the lobbies for the various long-distance, commuter, metric gauge, and bus station services, which will promote a natural flow of passengers. The roof, designed with open areas, prioritizes natural lighting and ventilation of the platform area, and also projects wide transversal walkways that will extend the Moreda Park over the platforms; walkways that will materialize the interaction between the station and the park.

The urban environment between the station and the park will be transformed into an integrated environmental corridor, providing more space for citizens and permeabilizing the neighborhoods of Moreda and the Industrial Estate. Likewise, it will have a road layout aligned with the city’s Urban Plan.