The AP-7 has reopened to traffic in both directions at Pilar de la Horadada following cleaning work in the tunnels affected by flooding on 19 October.
The reopening reported on Friday 23 October completes the restoration of traffic through the section after the Cartagena-bound carriageway remained closed for much of the morning.
That closure forced vehicles onto the N-332 and caused queues on the parallel road, which is also used for journeys towards San Pedro del Pinatar and Cartagena.
Alicante-bound traffic returned first
Mud removal and checks on the tunnel installations had allowed traffic towards Alicante to resume first, while the necessary work on the opposite carriageway was still outstanding.
The incident affected a roughly four-kilometre section of the Alicante–Cartagena motorway, where accumulated water, mud and trapped vehicles interrupted traffic.
The storm on Monday 19 October brought around 50 litres of rain per square metre in just over 45 minutes and flooded the tunnels.
Thirteen people were evacuated on Monday
During that night, thirteen people had to be evacuated from their vehicles, with no injuries recorded, in an operation involving the emergency services.
The Guardia Civil received the alert at 23:00 on Monday; its officers and Local Police took part in the rescue, while an ambulance and municipal medical staff also attended.
Those affected received assistance and food at the municipal shelter, where they were able to dry off before returning gradually to their homes with help from Civil Protection.
From four closed lanes to reopening
By mid-morning on Tuesday 20 October, all four lanes of the affected section were still closed, although the water had already drained from inside the tunnel.
Mud and several stranded vehicles remained at that stage, requiring cleaning and car removal work to continue before traffic could be restored.
The reopening in both directions reported on Friday marks a further development from that closure and the subsequent partial restoration of traffic towards Alicante.
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