The first phase of remodeling of Mediterráneo Avenue will include the renovation of Europa Avenue

The first phase of remodeling of Mediterráneo Avenue will include the renovation of Europ Avenue. This has been announced today by the mayor, Toni Pérez, who explained that this renewal is included as an "improvement" in the specifications that will govern the work contract of Mediterráneo Avenue, which tomorrow will be decided in an extraordinary briefing and urgent committee of Finance.

Pérez indicated that the renovation of Europa Avenue is "one of the four complementary works included in the specifications, to which it is added the execution of an additional rainwater channel in Emilio Romero Street, the improvement of the mesh of 'leds' for the technohite and the techno-pads foreseen in the project, and the improvement of the municipal optical fiber network, the access controls and the technological elements of the entire Mediterráneo Avenue and adjacent roads.

The mayor clarified that the specifications state that this action in Europa will include "the installation of new lighting; the elimination of the median strip, which would be paved forming a platform for a new bi-directional bike path; the replacement of municipal services by sections; and the renovation of the paving also by sections "starting from the crossing with Mediterráneo Avenue ". Pérez indicated that "we hope that the offers" presented by the companies "complete" the renovation of "the totality" of this avenue that is "the main entrance to the city" from Levante.

In his appearance, the mayor recalled that in this first phase of remodeling of the avenue is expected to act from El Puente Street to Europa Avenue, including La Hispanidad square, the stretch pending renovation of Doctor Pérez Llorca Street, Valencia Street, Bilbao Avenue and Emilio Romero street. In total, "28,000 square meters of performance" that arrive "almost six decades later" to illuminate this avenue "fundamental for mobility, which is a commercial and communication axis, and which houses part of the large water pipes in the subsoil ".

In fact, the bulk of the work "is concentrated in the subsoil", with the renewal of drinking water, waste and rainwater networks. In addition, the project proposes action in the urban scene, the renewal of the public lighting network, the installation of access controls, the expansion of the gardening plantations, the placement of new furniture, the installation of an ornamental fountain and a tecnohito 23 meters high in Plaza de la Hispanidad, and the creation of technoparadas bus.

The bidding document also establishes how the work will be financed, amounting to 9.5 million euros -IVA not included-. A formula that "already has the approval of the technical teams" of the areas of "Engineering, Urban Planning and Intervention" and that fixes that 75% of the cost - around 7.1 million euros without VAT and that correspond to the work in the subsoil- is executed with a charge to the Renewal Fund of the water contract for this year and that of 2019, which amounts to 4.5 million euros per year. The remaining 25%, 2.3 million euros -2.8 million with VAT- would come out of the municipal coffers charged to the budgets of 2018 and 2019 since it is a "biannual" project.

The mayor has clarified that the water concessionaire, Hidraqua, has also given its approval to this formula, and stressed that the Renewal Fund "is just to intervene in renovation works and improvement of the hydraulic network." Therefore, "those funds will be used for what they are. What this government decides, with all the favorable technical reports, is to dedicate it to the main artery of the city. "

After being approved tomorrow the approval of the statement in committee, the intention of the local government is to take the issue to an extraordinary plenary session so as not to delay its bidding. At this point, Pérez recalled that deadlines are key to the work "interrupt as little as possible the life of the avenue in high season" and only affect one summer, the 2019.

Details of the project of the first phase

The bases of this project are: "the extension of pedestrian areas, improvement of the hydraulic infrastructures, and modernization of the urban elements and installations of new technologies linking them to our main industry, tourism".

With regard to the work in the subsoil, the project includes the following actions:

- Wastewater network: collectors are renewed, the pumping of Pérez Llorca and Emilio Romero street, connecting to the pumping of residuals of La Hispanidad square (giving a great versatility when managing the flow of wastewater reducing the flow of pumping Avda. Mediterráneo).

- Storm water network: New collectors are installed, an anti-pollution tank is constructed that will eliminate the discharges of the first rains to the beach (highly polluting). The Orts Llorca and L'Aiguera basins are interconnected, reducing the risk of flooding.

- Drinking water network: The network is renewed with ductile cast iron pipes and modernized, installing elements of network control to detect and reduce possible leaks.

Definitive approval of the municipal budget

In addition to the specifications of Mediterráneo Avenue, the Finance Commission will also decide tomorrow the proposal for final approval of the 2018 budget. The proposal includes rejecting the two claims raised by a private individual and varying a budget item to assume the payment of the interests of delay of the last judgment of the Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community (TSJ) in relation to the expropriation of the lands of El Moralet property of Incobe SL.

On the claims to the budget, the first asked for the inclusion of an item of the budget to review biannually the valuation of the municipal property; and the second demanded consignment for the realization of the Acoustic Plan of Benidorm. The technicians have proposed to dismiss both allegations because "the City Council is already acting". Thus, "an application for asset management and inventory review has already been contracted, appraising 21 properties", and because "a credit retention of just over 18,000 euros has already been processed for the Acoustic Plan.