The Benidorm EDUSI will improve pedestrian traffic for people with reduced mobility between Maravall and Jaime I

“We are creating a city without barriers, where all our neighbors can use public spaces under the same conditions. Benidorm is becoming greener, more pleasant and more accessible for the pedestrian traffic of our neighbors," explained the mayor Toni Pérez today, during the visit to the new action of the Sustainable and Integrative Urban Development Strategy (EDUSI) of Benidorm , which corresponds to the second phase of the improvement works in the southern part of Jaime I. A visit in which he has been accompanied by members of the local government and the municipal corporation.

These works will improve mobility and accessibility in the streets that connect Avenida Jaime I and Calle Maravall. With new sidewalks, green areas and a lift, this action will complete the accessibility and mobility improvements that are underway in the Alfredo Corral area.

"The innovative aspects of this action by EDUSI are the installation of an elevator that will connect Marqués de Comillas street with Tordo street and the complete renovation of Gorrión street," Mayor Toni Pérez explained during the visit today. "This is how we improve accessibility and prevent the existing slope from continuing to disturb pedestrian traffic."
The action will affect Tordo, Gorrión, and Jilguero streets "recovering these public spaces and making them more comfortable, friendly and accessible to our neighbors", Pérez pointed out. One of the novelties of these works is "the installation of an elevator next to a walkway so that residents with reduced mobility can access this avenue on equal terms."
Gorrión street, already pedestrianized, will be transformed into a new pedestrian-only square. The current pavement will be changed to a non-slip one and large trees will be planted to give new life to this public space. The action also includes new accessible street furniture, as well as ramps for access to homes, maintaining the current entrances and exits to the garages on this street.

A single platform with the non-slip pavement will be installed on Tordo street which will give preference to pedestrians. Thanks to these works, accessibility will be ensured on this street by eliminating the current unevenness and stairs.

“We are operating in a fully residential area of Benidorm: we Benidormians live here. We conceived EDUSI for this: to improve the quality of life of our neighbors,” added the mayor. “There is much talk about the Smart Tourist Destination, but we know that we will only be that great destination if we are able to achieve a city where one can live. This is the message behind these investments. “
The works of this second phase to improve mobility and accessibility in the southern area of Jaime I also include the renovation of the water network. Specifically, the collectors of the wastewater treatment network will be improved to have a more functional and up-to-date drainage network. The rainwater network will also be expanded, taking advantage of the intervention to install new wells and scuppers.

"In this neighborhood, we have already renovated all the public lighting thanks to a grant from the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE)," recalled Toni Pérez. "With this operation, now completed, we have gained in energy savings and quality of life, and with the action of EDUSI we will continue to promote the quality of life in this residential neighborhood."

The investment in the action to improve accessibility and mobility in the south of Jaime I amounts to 585,700.96 euros. Co-financed by the Benidorm City Council and the European FEDER funds, these works respond to two strategic objectives of the EDUSI: the improvement of mobility and the recovery and enhancement of public spaces.

ABOUT THE BENIDORM EDUSI:

The Plurirregional Operational Program of Spain 2014-2020, and the Operational Program for Sustainable Growth (POCS) promote the DUSI strategy, for Sustainable and Integrated Urban Development, which Benidorm, as established in the Resolution of May 4, 2018, published in The Official State Gazette (BOE) of the Order of the Third Call HFP/888/2017, has managed to opt for and obtain financing from the FEDER aid of 10 Million Euros, through its EDUSI BENIDORM strategy.

The EDUSI BENIDORM is made up of a series of thematic, specific, strategic, and operational objectives, encompassed through 13 Lines of Action, whose social, environmental, economic, and urban impact on the city aims to transform a delimited urban area of the city into the to intervene and regenerate fully, for the sake of producing an impact and global improvement in the city.