The reopening of Torrevieja’s Levante promenade delayed again

According to sources familiar with the project, the company that was awarded the contract for the remodelling of Torrevieja’s Levante Dike promenade has requested an extension from the Council to complete the work. The promenade will not be open to the public until at least the end of September. It is anticipated that the extension agreement will be approved at an extraordinary governing meeting this week.

Supplies

The initial construction period, which commenced in November 2024, lasted for nine months and concluded in July, resulting in the first extension.

In mid-June, Mayor Eduardo Dolón conducted a site visit and declared that the project would be finalised in August. He explicitly stated that the City Council’s intention and aspiration was to reopen the facility this month, which coincides with the city’s prime tourist season.

Factors

The contracting firm, CHM, identified the primary reasons for the delay as the absence of factory stock of furniture, particularly the new prefabricated benches, and the insufficient materials to implement the unique architectural and monumental lighting that is a key feature of this project, according to the same sources.

Furthermore, delays were caused by the slower tempo of work on certain days, which was exacerbated by the extreme temperatures. During the initial extension, the reverse transpired. The structure’s repainting was postponed by rain, which also resulted in a delay in the supply of this specialised illumination. This is a relatively prevalent occurrence in initiatives of this size.

In excess of six million euros

The promenade’s current aspect is not significantly altered by the repair and remodelling, which require an investment of €6,543,733 (VAT included). Nevertheless, it undergoes a thorough renovation of the majority of its components, resulting in a significantly lower maintenance cost than the municipality has encountered over the past 25 years. This cantilevered promenade was inaugurated in 1999.

The primary objective is to replace all wooden planks with engineered wood planks that are supported by a fibreglass tramex base. This will ensure that there is sufficient space for the hundreds of pedestrians who will use the promenade in front of the removed wooden planks on a daily basis.

The railings have been replaced with steel, and all of the pillars and their lighting fixtures that are parallel to the breakwater have been renovated. In addition, a continuous concrete bench has been installed along the 1,300 linear meters of the promenade that separates Torrevieja Bay from the sea, and it was specifically designed for this project.

The complete paintwork on the structure of the cantilevered walkway has been cleaned; it was previously yellow and is now a dark grey colour.

A monumental architectural lighting system with a variety of colours will be installed on the promenade, further defining the renovation’s conclusion. A European grant is providing support for this component of the initiative.

Workings of the Port

In order to address all projects, the numerous investments being made in the port area must be aligned like a puzzle.

For instance, the project that was awarded in December to remodel the initial section of the Levante breakwater, which spans from Hombre del Mar to the new leisure centre, has been modified to increase its budget in order to accommodate terrain conditions that were not accounted for in the project. However, the project cannot commence until the concessionaire of the new commercial space has completed the new road required to facilitate the exit of trucks from the fish market and the exit of cars from the public parking lot at Marina Salinas. The roundabout located at Plaza Waldo Calero and Calle María Parodi will serve as the departure point for all.

Despite the fact that the current roundabout has been referred to as “temporary” since its construction, there are no apparent short-term plans to expand it at this time.

The redevelopment of the fair and the subsequent elimination of Paseo de la Libertad and the avenue of the same name have resulted in the creation of a new thoroughfare, Rambla Juan Mateo Street, and the elimination of Plaza de Capdepont. The project was placed out to tender.

The exit to Ramón y Cajal is also obstructed by the footbridge construction, and it will be perpetually closed when the entire fairgrounds area is redeveloped to create pedestrian space.