Álava definitively approves its plan against noise from provincial roads

The definitive agreement of the Noise Action Plan

The Foral Government Council of the Provincial Council of Álava definitively approved, through Agreement 547/2026, of 4 August, the Noise Action Plan for the roads of the Foral Network of the Historical Territory of Álava. The document was published in the Official Gazette of the Historical Territory of Álava (BOTHA) on 17 August 2026, in issue number 93. This resolution establishes the acoustic measures for the provincial road network for the period 2025-2029, in compliance with European and Spanish regulations on noise pollution.

The resolution is final in administrative proceedings and was signed in Vitoria-Gasteiz on 4 August 2026 by the General Deputy RAMIRO GONZÁLEZ VICENTE and the Foral Deputy for Sustainable Mobility and Road Infrastructure JON NOGALES PRIETO.

Regulatory framework and drafting process

The plan responds to compliance with Law 37/2003, Decree 213/2012 and constitutes Phase 4 of Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the assessment and management of environmental noise. The document was drafted by the Roads Service of the Provincial Council of Álava, with the participation of the company TECNALIA, specialised in technological research.

The plan was provisionally approved through Agreement 772 of the Foral Government Council, of 16 December 2025. Subsequently, it was submitted for consultation with the affected town councils and to a one-month public information period, in accordance with Article 19 of Decree 213/2012. The notice was published in the BOTHA on 26 December 2025 and in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country (BOPV) on 16 January 2026.

Allegations from town councils and residents

During the consultation and public information period, several town councils and residents submitted allegations to the plan. Among the municipalities that submitted written statements are Legutio, Laudio/Llodio, Amurrio, Arratzua-Ubarrundia, Armiñón, San Millán/Donemiliaga and Labastida. Allegations were also registered from Belén Pérez de Urrutia Fernández de Troconiz, spokesperson for EH Bildu Arratzua-Ubarrundia, and from the residents of Ribabellosa Ignacio Urtaran Rueda and Minerva González Coca.

Among the notable requests:

• The City Council of Laudio/Llodio requested reconsideration of the A-3638 road as a Priority Action Zone (ZAP), noting that the noise source of said road contributes significantly to exceeding the Acoustic Quality Objectives.
• The City Council of Amurrio requested recognition of the situation of regulatory non-compliance and the inclusion of priority sections with a specific implementation schedule.
• The City Council of Arratzua-Ubarrundia questioned the correspondence between the exposed population included in the plan and the actual number of affected homes, requesting a review of said figures.
• The Mayor of Legutio urged that areas outside the prioritization be subject to study to identify viable corrective alternatives.
• Residents of Ribabellosa requested the installation of acoustic barriers or sound-absorbing pavements and speed limits to reduce the impact of nighttime traffic.

Technical response and final approval

All allegations submitted were subject to a technical report by TECNALIA, the company responsible for drafting the plan. In the case of the Laudio/Llodio City Council, a detailed acoustic study for the area was also prepared. The report was issued by the Roads Service with the approval of the Director of Road Infrastructure and Mobility.

Finally, the plan was proposed by the Deputy for Sustainable Mobility and Road Infrastructure and submitted for deliberation to the Provincial Government Council, which agreed to its final approval and the response to all allegations in accordance with the technical reports issued.

Appeals and deadlines

Against the resolution, an administrative contentious appeal may be filed before the Administrative Contentious Court of Vitoria-Gasteiz, within a period of two months counted from the day following receipt of notification, in accordance with Article 46 of Law 29/1998, of 13 July. Likewise, on an optional basis, an appeal for reconsideration may be filed before the same body that issued the act, within a period of one month.

Source: Official Bulletin of the Historical Territory of Álava (BOTHA), number 93, 17 August 2026, section I (General Assemblies of Álava and Provincial Administration of the Historical Territory of Álava – Announcements of the Provincial Council of Álava) (official reference: 2026_093_02414; Agreement 547/2026, of 4 August).