Calpe plans to spend €450,000 to upgrade pavements and bike lanes

The bike lane between Calle La Niña and Letonia on Avenida de los Ejércitos Españoles is going to be altered by Calpe City Council. To increase safety for both users, the area allotted for bicycles and pedestrians is to be appropriately redistributed.

At the moment, the bike lane is situated on the innermost portion of the sidewalk and runs parallel to it without a curb. A one-metre-wide sidewalk and, at the end, a garden space run parallel to the bike lane, which faces the road. By moving the pavement to this innermost end, these projects hope to make it easier for pedestrians to visit the nearby stores without having to cross the bike route.

Putting money into security

In order to make the path safer for both cyclists and pedestrians, the pedestrian sidewalk will also be widened, extending from one to three metres, and will be divided from the bike lane by a landscaped space of more than one metre, where trees and street furniture will be placed. In turn, a gap of nearly one metre will divide the bike lane from the parallel parking strip that runs the length of this portion.

Along with planting trees and updating the street furniture, the project will also involve putting in a bike lane with a unique pavement that is more appropriate and long-lasting for this purpose.

A four-month execution period

Within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, which is funded by the European Union – Next Generation, this project is part of the Sustainable Tourism Destination Plan, which is supported by the State Secretariat for Tourism and the Valencian Community Tourism Department.

With a base value of €449,682.13, the project has already been placed out to bid and is presently undergoing evaluation before being awarded. Four months is the estimated completion time.

Councillor for Infrastructure Juan Manuel del Pino stressed that the project is part of the Calp council’s commitment to encouraging bicycle use and pedestrian routes. “With this initiative, we not only aim to create a safer route for residents but also to facilitate their mobility and accessibility along one of Calpe’s main thoroughfares,” he said.