The Puerto del Pico Roman road located in the Sierra de Gredos, is part of the dense road network built in Spain in roman times. The many restorations and repairs required to maintain this road have made it difficult to recognize the original work. In addition to all the historical, cultural, business, environmental, tourist and commercial advantages, the employment opportunities generated by the restoration of an historical heritage of unique characteristics set in a framework of incomparable beauty would undoubtedly be beneficial to an economically and socially poor region. The Local Employment Actions Project in Gredos (ALEGRE) was born from the belief that renovating the Puerto del Pico Roman road would undeniably boost development in the regions it crosses and increase levels of income and quality of life for the inhabitants. This is a 1.8 million ECU project and is backed by the regional government of Castilla and Leon, the Instituto Nacional de Empleo (national employment agency) and the provincial councils and the town councils of the regions affected. The main objectives of the project are job creation, local impact, economic growth, enviromental protection and the introduction of a compulsory reference framework for other agencies which want to undertake similar projects within the context of interregional cooperation. This project, expected to take two years and to cover six stretches of the road (some 43 km) will renovate one of the routes within the Roman road network in Spain which, until the 18th century, was of great importance to communication between the North and the South. (A)
Abstract