Once completed, the new parking facility will be managed by the same operator as the existing Astigarraga and Oiartzun truck parks.The aim of the Astigarraga-Oiartzun Integrated Transport Centre — with its three platforms — is to support and safeguard the European Atlantic transport corridor by offering safe, protected parking zones connected to Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).
The new parking facility will serve southbound traffic and will be internally connected to the existing platform, which includes 341 spaces and facilities for dining and rest.
European transport operators will have access to a new secure and monitored parking area on the Atlantic RTE-T corridor (Trans-European Transport Network). The infrastructure, with a capacity for 152 lorries, will increase the parking capacity heading south and will also provide a turning point. It will be built adjacent to and parallel with the E-70 AP-8/AP-1 motorway, at kilometre 17.000 near the French border at Biriatou, in the municipality of Astigarraga in the Basque Country.
Bidegi S.A., a company owned by the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, plans to approve the tender for the construction project this May, with a base budget of €18.6 million + VAT and an execution period of 30 months from contract award. Once completed, it will become part of the Astigarraga-Oiartzun Integrated Transport Centre (CIT), which currently includes two fully operational truck parks since January 2022 — one in Astigarraga and one in Oiartzun. Both have been certified with the European Union’s Gold standard, and the new facility will also meet EU regulations and the highest technological and quality standards required for Gold level, as established by Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 of the European Parliament.
The General Director of Bidegi, S.A., Alfredo Etxeberria, stated: “Every day, godos worth billions of euros are trasnported across roads forming parto f the trans-European transport network, which is the backbone of the EU economy”.
He highlighted the importance of these kinds of facilities, stating:
“They are essential to the continuous improvement of working conditions for drivers, offering safe rest areas and ensuring security for the cargo they transport.”
He also stressed that “European institutions are actively promoting the construction and operation of these secure parking areas.”
The new platform, named Astigarraga Norte, will serve drivers arriving from France heading to southern Spain, Portugal, and North Africa. It Will help to increase the parking capacity of southbound trucks that currently consist of 184 parking lots at the existing Oiartzun parking area, ( PK 8). This means that within a 9-kilometre stretch, southbound drivers will have access to a total of 336 parking lots.
The location of Astigarraga Norte — directly opposite the existing northbound parking facility — will allow both platforms to be connected via an underpass beneath the AP-8 motorway.
34.600 m2 and 152 parking lots
The new truck park will be built on a rectangular surface of around 34,600 m² alongside the southbound AP-8, measuring 195 metres in length and 108 metres in width. The design includes three longitudinal roads and two transverse roads to facilitate vehicle circulation to the chosen parking space.
- 110 spaces for articulated trucks up to 10.5 metres in length
- 33 spaces for trucks over 20.5 metres (suitable for transporting cars)
- 9 spaces for vehicles up to 17.5 metres
- Facilities include two blocks with toilets and showers
Fenced and secure perimeter
The site will be enclosed by anti-climb fencing at least 2.5 metres high, meeting EU Gold level security requirements. A perimeter CCTV system with continuous recording will be installed to detect movement and intrusion. Internal cameras will monitor the parking area, with number plate recognition at the entry and exit points.
To minimise environmental impact, a hydrocylon drainage system will be installed to capture and pre-treat runoff water, particularly the first flush that collects surface pollutants before entering the main drainage system.
Direct acces from the highway
The facility will have direct access from the E-70 AP-8/AP-1 motorway via a 330-metre entry lane. Re-entry to the motorway will be facilitated by a 265-metre acceleration lane. Both lanes will be 3.5 metres wide with 2.5-metre hard shoulders.
Transporters will have access via two entry lanes with number plate readers and two exit lanes.
Interconnected parking lots
One key feature of the project is the internal connection between the north and southbound platforms, both for vehicles and pedestrians. A 14-metre-wide underpass with a minimum clearance height of 5.5 metres will allow access between the two areas.
Drivers heading to southern Spain, Portugal or North Africa will be able to use the services at the existing Astigarraga facility. This connection is particularly important for hazardous cargo or refrigerated transport requiring electrical hook-ups.
The existing facility (since January 2022) has:
- 341 spaces
- 30 for hazardous materials (14 flammable, 16 non-flammable)
- 28 refrigerated spaces with electric hook-ups
- 20 refrigerated spaces without hook-ups
This arrangement isolates refrigeration units to reduce noise for better driver rest.
The 152 new spaces at Astigarraga Norte will be allocated for non-hazardous, non-refrigerated cargo.
The internal connection will also allow pedestrian access to the service building (845 m² ground floor), which includes:
- Restaurant-cafeteria with daily menu
- Supermarket
- 3 lounge areas with TVs and seating
- Toilets, showers, laundry facilities
- Self-service kitchen/microwave area
- Lorry wash tunnel
Thanks to these services, Astigarraga was awarded “European Truck Parking of the Year 2023” and received the “Green Parking Management for Lorries 2025” award from ESPORG (European Secure Parking Organisation).
Unified Management
Once completed, the new parking facility will be managed by the same operator as the existing Astigarraga and Oiartzun truck parks. All spaces will be available for short-term use, and the first hour of parking will be free.
The aim of the Astigarraga-Oiartzun Integrated Transport Centre — with its three platforms — is to support and safeguard the European Atlantic transport corridor by offering safe, protected parking zones connected to Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).
Within a 17-kilometre radius from the French border, professional drivers will benefit from 677 total parking spaces supported by modern rest and service infrastructure.
