Since Monday 14 September 2026, the regional road A-132 has been closed between kilometres 46.120 and 64.600. The Gobierno de Aragón is continuing the work already under way and says the closure will remain in place until October 2026. Access to the villages of Villalangua and Salinas de Jaca will be maintained; through traffic is being diverted via a wide detour.
The works affect the area of Las Peñas de Riglos, where one of the worst wildfires in Aragon since records began broke out in August. The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. Local reports suggested it may have started near the roadworks; the relevant authorities are examining these leads but have not yet published a definitive finding.
Work on the A-132 was controversial even before the fire. Municipalities belonging to the Asociación Reino de los Mallos — including Ayerbe, Agüero, Biscarrués, Las Peñas de Riglos, La Sotonera, Loarre, Lupiñén, Murillo de Gállego and Santa Eulalia de Gállego — criticised the timing and handling of the closures for months. They warned of disruption to emergency services and additional risks during the summer months, when visitor numbers and the risk of wildfires increase. Following the protests, the regional administration said it would improve communication with the affected villages and coordinate future works more closely.
With the closure now in force, the Gobierno de Aragón has shifted the most disruptive phases of the works to the period after the peak holiday season. Representatives of several municipalities had previously accepted a limited closure window in September as a workable compromise. However, the closure planned to last until October is still causing concern among local authorities and businesses, who complain of detours and extra costs. They are calling for clear safety requirements at the worksite, reliable information on the schedule and transparency about the state of the fire investigation.
The closure is in place and will remain so until October 2026. It is not yet known whether, or to what extent, additional measures — such as further short-term full closures — will be needed in autumn. The cause of the fire remains unknown; statements on the matter are subject to ongoing investigations. No reliable decisions have yet been made about possible legal consequences for companies or the administration.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).