The MA-7401, a key route between Ronda and Benaoján, will be closed from Monday, July 20 to Friday, July 24 due to excavations of 1.5 metres deep. Two alternative routes have been established for residents of the Guadiaro Valley.
The MA-7401 road, which connects Ronda and Benaoján, will experience a total traffic closure for five days next week. The closure, announced by the Benaoján Town Hall following notification from the Málaga Provincial Council, is due to repair and improvement works that have been ongoing since June.
A radical closure due to deep excavations
The interruption will begin at seven in the morning on Monday, July 20 and will last until three in the afternoon on Friday, July 24. The reason is that the works require excavations of 1.5 metres deep that occupy the entire width of the roadway, making it impossible to ensure safe passage for vehicles.
According to the Málaga Provincial Council, the duration of the closure will be limited to these five days, provided that no weather or technical setbacks occur. The measure directly affects thousands of residents in towns in the Guadiaro Valley, such as Montejaque, Jimera de Líbar, or Cortes de la Frontera.
Alternative routes for drivers
To minimise inconvenience, two detours have been established. The first runs from Benaoján to its train station via the MA-8400, continues through Montejaque, and takes the MA-8403 to connect with the A-374, which links to Ronda. The second shares the initial stretch but then heads to Cortes de la Frontera via the MA-8401, connecting with the Gaucín road and the route that rises from San Pedro de Alcántara to Ronda.
Residents of the Serranía de Ronda should plan their journeys in advance, as the alternatives involve a significant increase in travel time. Public transport is recommended, or avoiding the area during peak hours.
An investment of €3.1 million to resolve landslides
The structural rehabilitation and ground stabilisation works involve an investment of €3.1 million and are awarded to a temporary union of companies. The project addresses nearly nine kilometres of the road with the aim of resolving the serious landslides that the roadway platform has suffered.
The workers are repairing soft spots in the asphalt, milling and levelling the pavement, and erecting containment structures such as rock walls up to four metres high and micropile screens on the most unstable slopes. The works are expected to continue until early next year.
"The closure is necessary to ensure the safety of drivers and to definitively resolve the problems of the road," sources from the Málaga Provincial Council stated.
The Benaoján Town Hall has apologised for the inconvenience and assured that residents have been informed through social media and signage. For more information, the Provincial Council's website can be consulted or the citizen service phone line can be called.
The MA-7401 road is a vital artery for communication in the Serranía de Ronda, and its temporary closure will affect more than 5,000 residents of the region. It is expected that once the works are completed, the road will be in perfect condition and future closures will be avoided.
