The Ministry for Public Works -Fomento- has awarded FCC Construcción with the contract for the works on a new southbound carriageway of the A-4 between Venta de Cárdenas and Santa Elena -Despeñaperros turnoff-, in the province of Jaén, for 97 million euros.

The 9 km section of three 3.5 metre-wide lanes entails construction work from the Santa Elena junction at the 257 kilometres point, (P.K.257) as far as the connection with the current northbound carriageway of the A-4 at the El Corzo tunnel at the 246 kilometres point (P.K. 246) to the south of the connection with Venta de Cárdenas. It also includes the La Cantera and Despeñaperros tunnels which are 166 metres and 1,823 metres long respectively, as well as improvement of the existing El Corzo tunnel and six viaducts. In addition the project includes the re-structuring of the Santa Elena West junction and a new junction between the Aldeaquemada road (A-1300) and the A-4.

The works proposal for the new carriageway has been designed to cause the minimal environmental impact possible and takes into account any actions necessary to observe the ecological regulations and preserve the beauty of the countryside.