Winston Churchill Avenue connects Gibraltar with Spain. This journey is unique in that it passes via the runway of Gibraltar Airport, which is also renowned as the world’s fifth most extreme airport.
Where is the road through Gibraltar Airport located?
This road offers a one-of-a-kind and unforgettable driving experience because it runs through the center of one of the busiest airports in the area and is located in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The official name is Winston Churchill Avenue which is a 1.5-kilometer-long (1-mile) trunk road. It is the only link between Gibraltar and Spain.
You can locate this road that passes through the runway on the map below:
Enlarge the map
What are the characteristics of the road through Gibraltar Airport?
One of the two airports where this happens is this one, which intersects the runway. This roadway is also notable for being the main thoroughfare connecting Gibraltar and Spain.
In normal circumstances, the distance is small, and driving this avenue should not take you long. The difference is that when a plane lands or departs, the road is closed. This means that traffic will stop for around 10 minutes numerous times every day. A pair of barriers will close ahead of each landing or takeoff, restricting access.
The distance from the center of Gibraltar is another notable feature of this airport. It’s only 400 meters (500 yards) from the city center and is the world’s shortest major airport when compared to others. Winston Churchill Avenue isn’t just for automobiles. It is also accessible to pedestrians passing through or entering Gibraltar.
Characteristics of the road:
The history of the road that runs through Gibraltar Airport dates back to the Second World War. In order to provide air support for military operations in North Africa during the war, the British military built an airbase at Gibraltar. The main road connecting Gibraltar to the rest of the Iberian Peninsula was built over by the airbase’s runway, effectively dividing the territory in two.
The runway was lengthened and transformed into an airport after the war, which opened for commercial traffic in the 1950s. The runway road became one of Gibraltar’s most recognizable landmarks, and the airport developed into a significant hub for flights between Europe and North Africa.
A video of the road that crosses the take-off lane:
Additionally, a well-liked traveler and tourist destination is the road that passes through Gibraltar Airport. It offers a fantastic driving experience and convenient access to all of Gibraltar’s amenities and attractions. The road through Gibraltar Airport is a must-see attraction, regardless of whether you are an experienced traveler or a first-time visitor.
You can see how this road is crazy. For example, you have to watch this YouTube video as it shows a part of the road and you can have an idea about how it works:
To handle the increasing volume of traffic passing through the airport, the road has been widened and improved over time. The road still plays a significant part in the economic and cultural life of the area and is still a key link connecting the British overseas territory of Gibraltar to the rest of the Iberian Peninsula. The road through Gibraltar Airport continues to be one of the most famous and recognizable stretches of road in the world despite the difficulties presented by its location.
Picture credit: By TripBucket – Flickr: CIMG3048, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22864740 / By Michael F. Mehnert – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2851162
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