Briefing
On Tuesday, 15 September 2026, the Ministerio de Transportes y Movilidad Sostenible (Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility) is holding a large-scale emergency exercise in the Túnel de Piqueras on the national road N-111 will be closed in both directions from 09:00 to 15:00, affecting the section between kilometres 261.4 and 263.9. The designated alternative route is the old N-111A is available.
The exercise scenario involves a collision between an electric vehicle and a petrol-powered vehicle, followed by a fire that creates a hard-to-reach situation inside the tunnel. The aim is to check alert procedures, inter-agency coordination and the operation of recently upgraded safety equipment, such as fire detection and ventilation systems, emergency telephones, lighting, and video and traffic monitoring.
According to the authorities, the exercise involves fire and rescue services, the Guardia Civil, traffic control centres and the state service responsible for tunnel operations. Given the tunnel’s location on the border between Soria (Soria province) and La Rioja , a key focus is coordinating emergency plans and practical cooperation between the autonomous communities of Castilla y León and La Rioja.
The authority stresses that the exercise is routine and preventive: it is intended to measure response times under realistic conditions, test interfaces and identify possible shortcomings in protocols before a real incident occurs. Regional passenger and freight traffic can expect delays during the closure; the road authorities recommend following the signposted diversion via the N-111A, allowing extra travel time and obeying the instructions of emergency personnel on site.
Exercises of this kind comply with Spanish state regulations for road tunnels and are held at regular intervals, particularly after extensive upgrades to the safety systems in the Túnel de Piqueras.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).