Factors influencing the location of new motorways: large scale motorway building in Spain

Since the 1980s Spain has developed an ambitious road building programme with the construction of approximately 12,000 km of new motorways. This article analyses the factors related to the placement of these new motorways during two distinct planning periods from 1983 to 1993 and 1994 to 2004. Motorway placement strongly followed the existing radial road network dating back as far as the eighteenth century which illustrates the critical role that past decisions play in the placement of new investment. Motorway placement was also significantly related to population size and, more in general, the urban system. The empirical analysis, however, provides little evidence that motorways were placed in response to local economic growth.

► The large scale motorway building was based on different national road construction plans.
► Motorway placement was strongly influenced by the existing road network and the urban system.
► Historical decisions on road construction play a critical role in the placement of new investment.
► There is little evidence that motorways were placed in response to local economic growth.