Moving Cones

It was to have been transformed into a motorway by 1990, well in advance of Spain's application for the Ryder Cup. But a crucial, 22-kilometre stretch of the once infamous "Highway of Death", has yet to be completed.

This is the main road along Spain's Costa del Sol from Malaga to Cadiz, carrying the bulk of the golf enthusiasts to Valderrama. Traffic moved fine on Monday, but then there were only a handful of people at the golf. It was more congested yesterday and seems certain to become progressively worse when traffic increases later in the week.

The problem is the stretch of road between the village of Guariaro, near Valderrama, and the town of Estapona, which is back towards Marbella. In a Spanish solution to a Spanish problem, the police are using traffic cones to create two lanes of traffic going to the golf and one in the opposite direction.

Then, going back in the evening, the cones are moved across the road, so creating two lanes in the opposite direction. If that sounds a bit confusing, consider this. A super new four-lane toll highway, is being built from Malaga, cutting through the mountains and through some of the Costa's established golf courses.

Its destination? Estapona - still 22 kilometres of two-way traffic from Valderrama.