en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Government of Asturias (Gobierno de Asturias) will develop a new logistics infrastructure project called the Integrated Safe Logistics Area (ISLA) in the Asturias Logistics and Industrial Activity Zone (ZALIA), aimed at strengthening the multimodal transport capacity of the Port of Gijón. The project was unveiled at the Atlantic Corridor Forum (Foro del Corredor Atlántico) held in Brussels, Belgium.
The plan aligns with the regional government's goal of positioning Asturias as a logistics hub in Cantabria and enhancing its integration into the European Atlantic Corridor, consistent with its strategy to build a more integrated, competitive, and sustainable logistics system, and in line with the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) planning. The regional government expects to complete the full technical definition of the ISLA project by autumn this year, including functional design, cost-benefit analysis compliant with EU Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) standards, and all documentation required for the next round of European funding.
The ISLA project will improve connections between different transport modes such as maritime, rail, and road, facilitating more efficient cargo flow management, thereby optimizing logistics operations related to El Musel, enhancing transport coordination, and boosting the overall competitiveness of Asturias' logistics system. According to the plan, the project will equip ZALIA with the advanced infrastructure needed for multimodal transport development, including a Secure Truck Parking Area (SSTPA) meeting European standards, intelligent heavy-load traffic management systems, access control, operational digitalization, and value-added logistics services.
These measures will help strengthen coordination between the Port of Gijón, the future ZALIA multimodal terminal, and the railway network, promoting a more modern, efficient, and sustainable logistics model. At the same time, the project will expand the port's hinterland, promote rail freight, and reduce reliance on road transport for long-distance shipping. Leveraging its strategic location, ZALIA will reinforce its role as a core platform in the regional logistics system. Although the project is directly linked to the Port of Gijón, the main maritime cargo node in Asturias, its impact will extend across the entire region, including improved connections with the Port of Avilés (puerto de Avilés) and key industrial and logistics areas in Asturias, to foster a more integrated and balanced network.
This initiative is part of a joint strategy by the Government of Asturias, the Port Authority of Gijón (Autoridad Portuaria de Gijón), the Spanish Railway Infrastructure Manager (Adif), and the State Ports Authority (Puertos del Estado), aimed at strengthening multimodal transport and consolidating the Atlantic Corridor as a key axis for freight transport. Measures in this roadmap also include the Port of Gijón multimodal transport development plan, modernization of the El Musel railway network, launch of new rail services to inland Spain, promotion of the ZALIA multimodal terminal, and improvement of logistics connections in the Asturias port system.
