The contract for the supply and construction of the entire municipality’s traffic light network, which includes LED technology, remote management, and enhancements in safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency, has been put out to tender for €584,270 by the Department of Citizen Security. The traffic light network in Orihuela will be antiquated, inefficient, and evident signs of wear after more than 40 years of operation with virtually no changes.

Mónica Pastor, the Councillor for Citizen Security, clarified that the traffic signal system in Orihuela is “literally from the last century.” We possess equipment that is more than 40 years old, with obsolete mechanisms, discontinued parts, and lighting that provide minimal visibility. Pastor stated, “It is a matter of responsibility to decisively address this change and of citizen safety.” In order to guarantee uniform and coordinated action at all intersections and traffic signal control points throughout the municipality, the project includes a mixed supply and works contract with a 10-month execution period and no division into lots.

Smart management, increased visibility, and new traffic lighting

The contract’s incorporation of state-of-the-art LED technology is one of its most significant components, as it will considerably enhance visibility and decrease energy consumption. The current traffic lights, which are frequently inoperative and require costly maintenance, are equipped with incandescent bulbs. “The transition to LED technology not only enhances safety but also decreases public expenditures on energy and maintenance.” The councillor clarified that it is a return-generating investment.

Furthermore, the system will incorporate remote administration, a tool that will enable municipal technical services to monitor and modify traffic light operations from a centralised platform. This will enable the rapid identification of faults, the rapid response to any incidents, and the facilitation of cycle modifications in accordance with traffic requirements. “Previously, we were required to wait for an individual to report a malfunctioning traffic light before conducting an on-site inspection.” Pastor emphasised that real-time control will be achievable through remote management, which is unimaginable with current systems.

The project includes the traffic signals and all associated components, including controllers, electronic modules, wiring, manholes, control software and hardware, and support structures. It is a comprehensive project that will not only enhance the technical foundation of the system but also alter the appearance of the intersections.

The project encompasses the renovation of all technical components of the system, including controllers, electronic modules, subterranean wiring, manholes, control software and hardware, and support structures. The renovation of the wiring and manholes, which presently leak during periods of heavy rain, will be one of the most significant aspects. This leakage causes traffic lights to malfunction. The network will be able to remedy a recurring issue caused by this intervention.

Existing traffic lanes that are in excellent structural condition will be employed as an efficiency measure. These will be subjected to maintenance and repainting, which will lower expenses while maintaining a consistent and refreshed appearance at all traffic signal control points and intersections throughout the municipality.

Accessibility and safety on the road

Additionally, the renovation will prioritise accessibility by incorporating acoustic systems into the new devices to enhance signage for individuals with visual impairments. “We are going to make the traffic lights speak, literally, to ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can cross safely,” the councillor stated, in accordance with accessibility regulations, as noted by the pastor.

Additionally, the new system’s design anticipates a more effective distribution of pedestrian crossing times and more efficient traffic regulation during peak hour, which will directly affect the safety and fluidity of urban transportation. The project also addresses a need that has been extensively expressed by residents. In recent years, there have been a plethora of complaints regarding out-of-order traffic lights, poor visibility at hazardous intersections, and even preventable accidents. This has resulted in a sense of insecurity among many residents, particularly elderly drivers and families with children, in specific areas. Pastor concluded.

Specific enhancements for Orihuela Costa

The project will encompass the implementation of autonomous LED warning signs at pedestrian crossings and speed limit signs on major roads as part of Orihuela Costa’s dedication to road safety. These energy-efficient, highly visible signs will enhance safety at critical locations, particularly in areas with high pedestrian and tourist traffic. This measure will reinforce the prevention of accidents, benefiting both pedestrians and vehicles.

A habitual offender, who was arrested by the National Police for three robberies at establishments in the city centre on Friday, May 9th, was provisionally released by the Alicante on-call court.

The National Police has implicated the arrested man, as well as a drug addict who was imprisoned this week for similar offences, in the spate of robberies at restaurants and other businesses in the traditional centre of Alicante. Calls for increased vigilance from the Government Subdelegation were prompted by the pervasive social alarm that these attacks caused among business owners.

The National Police apprehended the now-released detainee after he was apprehended by a cleaning woman while attempting to rob a cafe in Alicante.

Investigators from the Judicial Police of the Central District Police Station have charged him with two robberies that were committed in establishments where the thief was captured on security cameras, in addition to this attempted robbery.

According to sources familiar with the investigation, the detainee is currently awaiting trials for numerous robberies and has a history of multiple criminal offences.

This detainee was released on parole late this morning, as the on-call court did not order a prison appearance for him. According to sources familiar with the matter, the police are confident that they will apprehend him for additional robberies in the near future, as his criminal activity persists. They have a comprehensive record of him.

The thief’s method of operation involves the use of a bollard or any blunt object to break store windows and glass. He steals any valuables or cash in the store after the glass is damaged.

The Guardia Civil has dismantled a drug trafficking network that was operating in multiple municipalities in the Vega Baja region under the pretext of legal cannabis associations. The courts have closed these entities for a period of five years. Between November and March of last year, 17 individuals of eight distinct nationalities were apprehended in Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Guardamar del Segura, and Rojales.

The operation commenced in March 2023, when the Special Anti-Drug Prosecutor’s Office requested information following the registration of a new cannabis association, according to the Guardia Civil. Simultaneously, there was an uptick in reports concerning drug possession and use in the region, primarily among foreign nationals. The Torrevieja Civil Guard initiated an investigation into numerous cannabis associations that purportedly operated on a non-profit basis but were actually serving as drug sales points for profit, in accordance with this information.

Officers executed the operation in six distinct phases following an investigation that lasted for over a year. Eight investigations were conducted at premises in Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Guardamar del Segura, and Rojales between November 2024 and March 2025. Narcotics, consumables, and cash were discovered.

A small laboratory was discovered in one of the premises, where derivative products, including hashish, oils, and various treats containing the substance, were produced in addition to marijuana cultivation. In total, €4,298.78 in cash, 767 prepared joints, vials with liquid extract, plants, and nearly 10 kilos of marijuana and derivative products were seized.

Following their appearance before a court, the detainees, who were of Spanish, British, Colombian, Russian, and Finnish nationality, were all released with precautionary measures. The detainees were 11 men and six women, with ages ranging from 26 to 69. Additionally, the six associations in question were closed for a period of five years as a consequence of the court ruling.

The Guardia Civil reaffirms its unwavering dedication to the battle against drug trafficking and underscores the significance of public collaboration in the detection of any suspicious activity through official channels.