New entrance into Santiago from Monte de Gozo

[peregrina2000]

First, they tried to keep pilgrims safe by taking away the sign showing entrance into Santiago (how many of us dangerously darted across the highway to get our picture taken ). This next step is a much bigger deal. The article shows pictures of the new walkway from Monte de Gozo.

The article notes that the cost was € 845,000. But that’s just a small portion of the total ten million euros appropriated by the Xunta to improve Camino entrances into Santiago.

https://www.elcorreogallego.es/santiago/finaliza-la-mejora-de-la-ruta-en-monte-do-gozo-AB4641147

 

[Aidan21]

Sure we are worth every cent!!

 

[Marbe2]

Laurie, the first time, I was so happy to see the sign that I ran to it...and thentook those photos. This area definitely needed improvement structurally. Looks easier to get down. Hope they improved the bridge as well! Thanks for posting this!

 

[rappahannock_rev]

More details and pictures, please.

 

[Bad Pilgrim]

First, they tried to keep pilgrims safe by taking away the sign showing entrance into Santiago (how many of us dangerously darted across the highway to get our picture taken ). This next step is a much bigger deal. The article shows pictures of the new walkway from Monte de Gozo.

The article notes that the cost was € 845,000. But that’s just a small portion of the total ten million euros appropriated by the Xunta to improve Camino entrances into Santiago.

https://www.elcorreogallego.es/santiago/finaliza-la-mejora-de-la-ruta-en-monte-do-gozo-AB4641147

Monte do Gozo does like to use that concrete in architecture...! At least the pathway goes with the rest of it

 

[jsalt]

I see we still have to watch out for cyclists though .

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Yes, I was over there a couple of weeks ago, it was all blocked off. It looks like a toboggan run!

 

[Saint Mike II]

Hola @peregrina2000 . Thanks for the update. Ah the memories!!
I remember the old section from 2015 (on the bike). Fortunately I had a good city map so I was able to negotiate a safer option. Now all the Xunta has to do is get the pilgrims to walk on the appropriate side of the road. I had one bloody fool stand in front of me & my bike as i came down that steep hill. Fortunately one of his amigos dragged him clear.

 

[RJM]

I can definitely see a lot of those reckless bicyclists causing all sorts of problems on that structure.

 

[Felipe]

A better view, also from "La voz de Galicia"
I am afraid it will very tempting for skaters...

 

[trecile]

A better view, also from "La voz de Galicia"
I am afraid it will very tempting for skaters...
View attachment 83247

That was my thought too.

 

[Roland49]

I didn't felt afraid of the "old" way to walk into the city.

It looks more convinient to walk than the way I used last year. But I didn't see the point. If you didn't jaywalk there was no danger for anyone.

BC
Roland

 

[Kanga]

Last time I walked into Santiago from the Francés I managed to get myself way off track and into wasteland beside construction activity. I'm still not sure where I was. Google eventually led me to something recognisable. This looks far too easy!

 

[JabbaPapa]

It's quite ugly, but still an improvement over the rather awful one that existed previously.

 

[JabbaPapa]

A better view, also from "La voz de Galicia"
I am afraid it will very tempting for skaters...
View attachment 83247

That's an architect's mockup image.

 

[Kathor1]

That's an architect's mockup image.

Here is another recent photo. It looks like the new walkway is not yet open to the public. It appears that pilgrims walk along the road while others, in an official capacity or involved in the works, walk on it. Or has it already been inaugurated?



And there is also this: También se retiraron los eucaliptos de la trasera, conformando un espacio que se integra con el resto del Monte do Gozo. Yeah! ☺

 

[Davie Blisters]

Unfortunately the design looks ripe for the Camino Graffiti Artists

 

[rappahannock_rev]

Unfortunately the design looks ripe for the Camino Graffiti Artists

Alas!, I suspect that the City Fathers who paid for this Bobsled Run will quickly balk at the cost of keeping it clean.

 

[RJM]

Unfortunately the design looks ripe for the Camino Graffiti Artists

Oh my, I did not even think about that. Yes, I fear it will soon be festooned with childish, ignorant scrawlings. Forever criminally damaged by dysfunctional people.

 

[Mike Wells]

Laurie, the first time, I was so happy to see the sign that I ran to it...and thentook those photos. This area definitely needed improvement structurally. Looks easier to get down. Hope they improved the bridge as well! Thanks for posting this!

Where have you been? The bridge was demolished in autumn 2017 when the AP-9 motorway was improved. It was rebuilt with a wide dedicated walking/cycling track across the new bridge to the left of the roadway and reopened in 2018. The new walking/cycle track down from Monte Gozo joins directly to the beginning of the new bridge. During reconstruction, CF walkers and cyclists had to make a long detour to avoid the building works, a fact reflected by posts from others on this thread who remember being diverted. I assume the bridge works accounted for a large chunk of the €10million budget.

 

[wayfarer]

I have moved a bunch of off topic posts from this thread. They can be found here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...ntiago-from-monte-de-gozo-for-cyclists.68514/

Please stay on topic.

 

[NualaOC]

First, they tried to keep pilgrims safe by taking away the sign showing entrance into Santiago (how many of us dangerously darted across the highway to get our picture taken ). This next step is a much bigger deal. The article shows pictures of the new walkway from Monte de Gozo.

The article notes that the cost was € 845,000. But that’s just a small portion of the total ten million euros appropriated by the Xunta to improve Camino entrances into Santiago.

https://www.elcorreogallego.es/santiago/finaliza-la-mejora-de-la-ruta-en-monte-do-gozo-AB4641147

Interesting. But I'll probably stick to my off-piste route through the Monte do Gozo parks and some quieter roads. I can't remember the exact details, but it's a much less hectic way of entering the city.

 

[VNwalking]

Nuala, thank you for the reminder that there is no rule that requires us to slavishly follow the official route into Santiago if it suits us to be a little more adventurous.

 

[NualaOC]

Nuala, thank you for the reminder that there is no rule that requires us to slavishly follow the official route into Santiago if it suits us to be a little more adventurous.

Well, I'm not sure if my route can be classed as adventurous When I reach Monto do Gozo, I like to go to the two pilgrim statues and imagine how they felt seeing the city for the first time. As I stand there, it just feels more logical to wander downhill towards the city centre. I think I enter the city somewhere near the bus station.

 

[VNwalking]

Off topic but I was looking at a very nice slightly longer option than the Frances, which takes you from the viewpoint over to the Invierno/Sanabres as they go under the motorway right before the Cidad de la Cultura (Intermediate waypoint #1, below). That entry into the city is one of the most lovely, and very quiet until you get to the old town (The photo is from just after waypoint #2).
There are walking tracks that could shorten that, going more directly to waypoint #2, but OSMand was not cooperating.


View media item 9725

 

[NualaOC]

That looks very interesting indeed, @VNwalking. If my March/April 2021 Camino happens, I might give it a try.

 

[VNwalking]

May it be so @NualaOC !!!