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C-32 (highway)
Encyclopedia
C-32 is a primary highway
in Catalonia
, Spain
. It was created in 2004 by merging three sections of existing autopistas and autovía
s. This re-organisation was part of a renaming of primary highways managed by the Generalitat de Catalunya
. According to this new denomination, the first number (C-32) indicates that is a southwest-northeast highway (parallel to the Mediterranean Sea
coastline), while the second number (C-32) indicates that is the second closest to the Mediterranean Sea.
The Barcelona-Mataró's section of the former A-19 (now renamed to C-31 and C-32) was the first autopista ever in Spain (1969).
, was previously named A-16
before the redenomination. It is a partially-tolled
autopista which runs parallel to the southern Barcelona
's Mediterranean coast. It starts at the intersection with the AP-7
, near El Vendrell
, and finishes at the intersection with the Barcelona International Airport
access freeway, near Sant Boi de Llobregat
.
It connects several relevant towns such as Vilanova i la Geltrú
, Sitges
and Castelldefels
, as well as it passes close to the Barcelona International Airport.
's Rondes (ring road
). This section has not been renamed yet because it is managed by the Spanish
government.
, also known as Autopista del Maresme. It begins at the intersection of the middle section (B-20) with the C-31, at Montgat
, and finishes at Palafolls, where it connects with the N-II
. It crosses the comarca of Maresme
, connecting relevant towns such as Vilassar de Mar
, Mataró
, Arenys de Mar
or Calella
. An extension of this section from Palafolls to Blanes
is already planned and its construction recently approved, whereas a further extension from Blanes to Lloret de Mar
and Tossa de Mar
is a controversial issue which is still in the middle of a discussion process.
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. It was created in 2004 by merging three sections of existing autopistas and autovía
Autovía
An autovía is one of two classes of major highway in the Spanish road system similar to a motorway. It is akin to the autopista, the other major highway class, but has fewer features and is never a toll road. Some distinguishing features of an autovía are that it must be divided by a median, it...
s. This re-organisation was part of a renaming of primary highways managed by the Generalitat de Catalunya
Generalitat de Catalunya
The Generalitat of Catalonia is the institution under which the autonomous community of Catalonia is politically organised. It consists of the Parliament, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Government of Catalonia....
. According to this new denomination, the first number (C-32) indicates that is a southwest-northeast highway (parallel to the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
coastline), while the second number (C-32) indicates that is the second closest to the Mediterranean Sea.
The Barcelona-Mataró's section of the former A-19 (now renamed to C-31 and C-32) was the first autopista ever in Spain (1969).
Southern section (El Vendrell-Sant Boi de Llobregat)
The C-32's southern section, also known as Autopista de Pau Casals (officially), named in honor of the famous cellist Pau Casals, or non-officially Túnels del Garraf after the tunnels through the Garraf MassifGarraf Massif
The Garraf Massif is a mountain range of the Catalan Coastal Range, Catalonia, Spain. Its cliffs reach the Mediterranean waters. Its highest point on the coastal side is La Morella, 593 metres above sea level and further inland rises the higher, although less conspicuous, Montau .The Garraf Massif...
, was previously named A-16
before the redenomination. It is a partially-tolledToll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
autopista which runs parallel to the southern Barcelona
Barcelona (province)
Barcelona is a province of eastern Spain, in the center of the autonomous community of Catalonia.-Overview:It is bordered by the provinces of Tarragona, Lleida, and Girona, and by the Mediterranean Sea....
's Mediterranean coast. It starts at the intersection with the AP-7
Autopista AP-7
The Autopista AP-7 is a Spanish autopista . It is a toll motorway that runs along the Mediterranean coast of Spain.AP-7 has two different sections :...
, near El Vendrell
El Vendrell
El Vendrell is a town located in Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain, in a wine-growing region. It is wedged between the Mediterranean and the Litoral mountain ranges...
, and finishes at the intersection with the Barcelona International Airport
Barcelona International Airport
Barcelona El Prat Airport , simply known as Barcelona Airport, is located southwest of the center of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, lying in the municipalities of El Prat de Llobregat, Viladecans and Sant Boi.The airport is the second largest in Spain behind Madrid Barajas Airport and the...
access freeway, near Sant Boi de Llobregat
Sant Boi de Llobregat
Sant Boi de Llobregat is a town of 80,000 inhabitants in the Barcelona province in Catalonia, located aside the Llobregat river.The town distributes its territory into six districts: Ciutat Cooperativa-Molí Nou, Marianao-Can Paulet, Barri Centre, Vinyets-Molí Vell, Camps Blancs-Canons-Orioles and...
.
It connects several relevant towns such as Vilanova i la Geltrú
Vilanova i la Geltrú
Vilanova i la Geltrú is a city in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and the capital of the Garraf comarca. Originally a fishing port, the city has a growing population of approximately 66,000, and is situated 40 km south-west of Barcelona, with the more famous coastal resort of...
, Sitges
Sitges
*Church of Sant Bartolomeu i Santa Tecla . It houses two Gothic sepulchres , belonging to the an older church located on the same site...
and Castelldefels
Castelldefels
Castelldefels is a town in the Baix Llobregat comarca, in the province of Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain and part of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona. Its population is 63.151 .-Geography and location:...
, as well as it passes close to the Barcelona International Airport.
Middle section (Sant Boi de Llobregat-Montgat)
The middle section should correspond to the actual autovía B-20, also known as Ronda de Dalt, which is a part of the BarcelonaBarcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
's Rondes (ring road
Ring road
A ring road, orbital motorway, beltway, circumferential highway, or loop highway is a road that encircles a town or city...
). This section has not been renamed yet because it is managed by the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
government.
Northern section (Montgat-Palafolls)
The northern section is a part of the former autopista A-19Autovía A-19
The Autovia A-19, named Autopista del Maresme, was a highway in Catalonia. It has subsequently been re-numbered Autopista C-32 and comprises a motorway built along the coast south from Barcelona via Castelldefels, Sitges, and Vilanova i la Geltrú....
, also known as Autopista del Maresme. It begins at the intersection of the middle section (B-20) with the C-31, at MontgatMontgat
Montgat is a municipality in the comarca of the Maresme inCatalonia, Spain. It is situated on the coast between Badalona and El Masnou, to the north-east of...
, and finishes at Palafolls, where it connects with the N-II
N-II
N-II was the former name for the Route Nacional from Madrid to Barcelona and France. According with the new Spanish roads nomenclature, the sections which have been already enhanced and upgraded to autovía have been recently renamed to A-2, whereas the sections still not upgraded keep the old name...
. It crosses the comarca of Maresme
Maresme
Maresme is a comarca located along the Catalan Mediterranean coast in Spain, between the comarques of Barcelonès and Selva , and also bordering with Vallès Oriental ....
, connecting relevant towns such as Vilassar de Mar
Vilassar de Mar
Vilassar de Mar is a municipality in the comarca of the Maresme in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the coast between Premià de Mar and Cabrera de Mar, to the north-east of Barcelona. The town is both a tourist centre and a dormitory town for Barcelona, and is also known for its horticulture...
, Mataró
Mataró
Mataró is the capital and largest city of the comarca of the Maresme, in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia Autonomous Community, Spain. It is located on the Costa del Maresme, to the south of Costa Brava, between Cabrera de Mar and Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, to the north-east of Barcelona. , it...
, Arenys de Mar
Arenys de Mar
Arenys de Mar , and de mar for by the sea as opposed to Arenys de Munt town inland) is one of the main municipalities of the comarca of Maresme, Barcelona Province, Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the coast between Sant Vicenç de Montalt and Canet de Mar...
or Calella
Calella
Calella is a seaside town on the Costa del Maresme, 58 km north east of Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain. It is located on the coast between Sant Pol de Mar and Pineda de Mar...
. An extension of this section from Palafolls to Blanes
Blanes
Blanes is a town on the Costa Brava in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain.The coast of Blanes has 4 km of different kinds of beaches, including the Blanes beach and S'Abanell beach.-Main sights:...
is already planned and its construction recently approved, whereas a further extension from Blanes to Lloret de Mar
Lloret de Mar
Lloret de Mar is a Mediterranean coastal town in Catalonia and one of the most popular holiday resorts on the Costa Brava. It is 40 kilometres from Girona and 75 kilometres from Barcelona and therefore easily accessible...
and Tossa de Mar
Tossa de Mar
Tossa de Mar is a municipality in Catalonia, Spain, located on the Costa Brava, about 103 kilometres north of Barcelona and 100 kilometres south of the French border...
is a controversial issue which is still in the middle of a discussion process.