Benidorm culminates the pedestrianization of Tomás Ortuño between Mercado and La Garita street, which will enhance the commercial character of the street

Only emergency and resident vehicles may be driven along the section, and no terraces are allowed

The mayor says that the future of this street goes by extending the pedestrianization to Apollo XI or Escuelas street

The pedestrianization works of Tomás Ortuño, between La Garita and Mercado streets, have already been completed and the whole section is completely open to pedestrian traffic. Works that have meant an investment of 497,000 euros, and which have consisted of paving 2,300 square meters, the elimination of architectural barriers, the creation of lugs, the renovation of potable water pipes and the placement of ornamental trees.

In addition, and through the improvements offered by the winning company - which have risen to 34% - has also been pedestrianized the street Market from l'Hort de Colón to Ramos Carratalá, and has acted in the section of the nearest La Garita To Tomás Ortuño.

This Monday the mayor, Toni Pérez; the councilman of Urban Scene, Jose Ramón González de Zárate; representatives of all groups of the corporation; municipal technicians; and those responsible for the awarded company have walked the street today to check the result of these works, which have lasted about 90 days.

Pérez has indicated that this pedestrianization reinforces the "commercial and residential character" of Tomás Ortuño, and highlighted "the incredible traffic" of passers-by who has recorded the entire stretch "even during construction." He also indicated that the urban concept for this section is "open street, without tables, without chairs, and where the pedestrian is the main character and the traditional trade has its space," in contrast to other routes primarily oriented to restoration .

The mayor has reported that traffic on this section will be "very limited", reserved only to residents and emergency vehicles. In fact, an access control has been installed at the intersection of Mercado and Ramos Carratalá streets, so that only duly authorized vehicles will be able to drive through the new stretch of Tomás Ortuño. Pérez has clarified that a consistent and sturdy pavement has been used so that limited traffic, even heavy vehicles, "will not cause breakage or damage."

As regards loading and unloading, and in view of the experience of the last three months, this will be referred to Ramos Carratalá Street, where it "worked perfectly" during the works, even in a commercial peak period such as Christmas .

Pérez highlighted the "incredible traffic" of pedestrians who have recorded this part of Tomás Ortuño not only once the paving has been completed, but "even during the works", and has advanced everything indicates that the ideal is to approach "a second phase" of pedestrianization "at least until the junction of Escuelas street". "It is an evidence that this action from today calls us to continue pedestrianizing," he added after recalling that any future decision is to listen to "the voice of the city and the political groups," as it did with this first phase requested by the association of neighbors of the neighborhood and collected by Citizens (C's) in a motion.

Actions foreseen in the draft budget: Gerona and Mediterranean

The mayor recalled that in the draft municipal budget for 2017 the local government has included important actions in several streets as Gerona or Mediterranean. The first consists of the pedestrianization of the section between Doctor Orts Llorca and Esperanto streets, where restoration is the main activity, and which has been proposed to allocate 379,000 euros. As for the remodeling of the avenue of the Mediterranean, Pérez has insisted that it is "an irreplaceable question" and a project that, by its scale, will have a multi-annual character. The draft budget includes 750,000 euros for a first performance in this artery of the city.