Belate Tunnel construction faces delays amid government disputes

Construction on the Belate Tunnel in Navarre has faced significant delays and recent inactivity, according to local reports and residents. The slowdown is linked to financial disputes between the Government of Navarre and the contractors, Acciona and Construcciones Osés, regarding the pricing of completed works and the processing of modified project agreements.

Contractors had previously challenged several payment certifications totaling approximately 11.7 million euros. While local officials in the Baztan-Bidasoa region have expressed concern over the impact on mobility and the local economy, Javier Remírez, Vice President and spokesperson for the Government of Navarre, has denied that the works are officially halted. He characterized the current state as a “sequence of action” and an “intermediate situation” between construction phases.

The government is currently preparing a file to recognize and settle payments for work already performed. The project, which began in March 2024, has already accumulated a delay of at least six months. Following the connection of the two tunnel mouths on June 19, work was intended to shift to the excavation of the lower gallery, a phase expected to continue through late 2026.