Positive test of the new Paseo de Levante catenary

The new catenary of Paseo de Levante, one of the traditional icons of Benidorm, is already in its final phase before the official inauguration. Thus, last night a general rehearsal was carried out that allowed us to see, over a kilometer, the different compositions and light scenes that the new infrastructure is capable of providing.

A wide variety of colors and dynamic scenes are already programmed in the command center, which was tested yesterday to verify that there are no errors. An essay that was described by the Councilor for Public Space, Francis Muñoz, as "very positive" because "it has allowed us to see that practically everything works perfectly and also for the technicians to appreciate any small detail that could be improved".

Up to now, most of the catenary has been installed, in the section that runs from Torrejó to Avenida Europa, a total of 40 spans and 1,560 'archipoints', each of which incorporates an essential code for its programming. "We have seen that a great variety of dynamic and static scenes can be shown, which can also vary their intensity," said Muñoz, who specified that within the improvements offered for this investment "two more openings are planned to further extend the catenary in length. However, this will not condition the official opening of the same”.

On the other hand, the installation of a new command center has also been planned because the current one, "the brain of the entire installation", which is located on Bilbao street, "is already clogged and cannot be expanded".

The truth is that the results harvested after the tests last night could not be more encouraging. Muñoz has highlighted "the enormous possibilities offered by this new system that enhance the attractiveness and image of the catenary".

The overall intervention for the renovation of the lighting of the Paseo de Levante represents an investment of 1,972,119.41 euros that has been financed with municipal resources charged to the treasury remnants because it is a financially sustainable project, since the reduction of energy power, once the intervention is finished, will be 33.65%.

This work has also entailed a new design of the columns, which includes an 11-meter, five-millimeter-thick dodecagonal pole and a three-meter-long upper lance cone, giving a total height of 14 meters. Each one has a crosshead for two projectors and another one to support the catenary garlands. The finish is a white-baked thermo-lacquer.

Francis Muñoz added that despite being a long-awaited action "we must remember that the road has been full of difficulties because we demanded that the Ministry carry out the work as it is within their competence, but their refusal to do so led to the City Council whoever did it on their own”.