The Mayor Toni Pérez highlights that these works will improve road safety and accessibility in Els Tolls, facilitating the daily life of residents
Benidorm undertakes a comprehensive and sustainable renovation for Els Tolls neighbourhood
These works to improve mobility have been financed by the EDUSI and the FEDER funds, which have provided aid amounting to €864,022.69
Benidorm completely renews the public space of the Els Tolls neighbourhood by widening the sidewalks with non-slip paving, narrowing the traffic lanes and installing pedestrian recesses. Mayor Toni Pérez, who visited the action today accompanied by members of the municipal corporation, explained that “this intervention aims to improve accessibility and safety for residents, especially children on school routes. Hand in hand with EDUSI, we are moving towards a safer, more accessible and comfortable Benidorm for residents”.
The works, which began in November last year, affect the space between Andalucía, Francia, Inglaterra and Italia avenues. "Little by little, through the improvement of each of our neighbourhoods, we are weaving together the urban fabric of Benidorm", declared Mayor Toni Pérez, who clarified that "by connecting some areas with others in a pedestrian way, we are doing a more walkable and safer city for pedestrians and residents”.
This action was awarded a budget of 2,077,976.65 euros, of which 864,022.69 will be financed with ERDF funds.
The transformation of Els Tolls area will improve pedestrian safety at crossings by reducing traffic lanes and increasing pedestrian space. Wider sidewalks will also be generated "since the current ones do not give the measure of complete accessibility" and non-slip pavement will be installed to guarantee universal accessibility, the danger of crossings in the area will be reduced and the existing trees will be respected.
Toni Pérez has indicated in this sense that "we gained in road safety, comfort, pedestrian space, image and services in a residential area in which there are also various public services and high-traffic around the educational centres". As for car parks, about 90 spaces will also be gained thanks to these works on Francia Avenue.
Another of the improvements of this action is the renovation of the public supply network, which includes drinking water pipes, the rainwater collection system and public lighting, which will be changed to LED lighting, thus fulfilling the commitment of sustainability by the City Council and EDUSI Benidorm. This will mean a new channelling of public lighting and all municipal services and the transfer of the scuppers to the new location of the curb. Likewise, the urban setting and the accessibility of the neighbourhood will be improved.
“The renovation of the rainwater collection system will make such system ready to be linked to Alfonso Puchades roundabout and from there to l'Aigüera ravine, at the time the planned works begin on the Emilio Ortuño road, the mayor emphasized.
Regarding the renewal of lighting with LED technology, it will affect public lighting and has been agreed with the residents of the neighbourhood. It will be co-financed with funds provided by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE) and joins the reform already started in other areas of the city. "This will contribute not only to economic and social benefits but also, and this is the key to the action, into an environmental benefit since CO2 emissions will be reduced exponentially", Toni Pérez assured.
The works of Els Tolls respond to several of the lines of action of Benidorm DUSI Strategy, among them "the improvement of sustainable mobility, the commitment to energy efficiency and the regeneration of urban areas". With these actions, Pérez added, "the Benidorm City Council and EDUSI improve public spaces so that citizens can comfortably move around the city on foot or by bicycle".
ABOUT THE EDUSI OF BENIDORM:
The Pluriregional Operational Program of Spain 2014-2020, and the Operational Program for Sustainable Growth (POCS) promote the DUSI strategy, for Sustainable and Integrated Urban Development, of 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 of 10 Million Euros, through its EDUSI BENIDORM strategy.
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 and to intervene and regenerate it comprehensively, in order to produce an impact and global improvement in the city.
