Benidorm approves the renovation project for the 'Andrea' columns on Paseo de Levante for 665,784 euros

The Local Government Board of Benidorm City Council approved this Monday the project for the "Rehabilitation of the ornamental lighting of the Andrea columns on the Paseo de Levante," as part of Action 5 of the 2023 Sustainable Tourism Destination Plan, known as "Verde Benidorm," with a budget of €665,784.41, VAT included. This was announced by the city's mayor, Toni Pérez, who noted that, in this way, "we continue to make progress in the development of projects that will allow us not only to renew, improve, and modernize the image of one of the busiest spots in our city, this seafront promenade, but also to reduce consumption and improve energy efficiency."

The project, drafted by Gener Proyectos De Ingeniería SL and submitted to the City Council on May 8, proposes the restoration of the structures that support the interior cylinder that makes up the "Andrea" luminaire, which dates back to the 1990s, as well as the replacement of the luminaire and the interior spotlights that illuminate it. In addition to providing them with a new electrical and control system for supply and intelligent management, explained the Councillor Urban Scene, Francis Muñoz.
The total number of "Andreas" currently existing is 22 units, of which 18 are distributed mainly along Paseo de Levante and the remaining four are located in the central axis of the final section of Avenida de Europa, between Avenida del Mediterráneo and the Paseo. The project proposes the permanent removal of the four units from Avenida Europa, "in order to create a clear area in the final section of this road."

In terms of lighting, the draft project includes replacing the columns' internal diffusers and installing new RGB LED spotlights for internal lighting, allowing them to be connected to the existing centralised control system on Paseo de Levante. This reduces installed power by approximately 40%, bringing the installation into line with current energy efficiency requirements.

The council member also explained that the various components that make up the structure of the "Andrea" "are currently in an advanced state of oxidation," and therefore "the dismantling of all the columns is planned for their complete restoration, as well as the cleaning of their components, such as the anchor bolts, for their reinstallation once they have been restored and treated to withstand the marine environment." Mechanical abrasives will be used to restore these structures to remove all rust, laminations, and other defects caused by moisture. After all this, the entire structure will be provided with a protective layer to achieve a C5-I protection level according to UNE-EN ISO 12944-2:2018, "to guarantee a life expectancy of more than 15 years in areas subject to high humidity and/or aggressive conditions," added Muñoz.

Finally, the project also includes the renewal of the existing conduit wiring, using a vacuum cleaning system or equivalent, to reuse the sections with the new wiring to be installed. In addition, a new fibre optic circuit and control nodes will be installed for the intelligent management of the lighting scenes generated by the "Andreas," allowing the lighting colour to be changed, as is the case with the overhead lines on this same promenade. The Councillor for Urban Scene explained that the next step will be to "request the relevant authorisations from the Provincial Coastal Service to carry out the works," as well as launch the bidding process. The project will be completed within eight months from the signing of the staking out report.

For his part, Mayor Toni Pérez insisted that "this government's work on the streets to improve our city is constant and unremitting, as demonstrated by the number of projects we have underway in virtually every neighbourhood." In the specific case of Levante, the mayor noted that this project to rehabilitate the 'Andrea' columns "complements the project we have already carried out to renew the lighting and ornamental catenary of Paseo de Levante from Torrejó to Avenida de Europa, with an investment of €1,972,119.41, financed entirely with municipal resources, and the project we recently awarded to Elecnor to renovate the second phase, between Avenida de Europa and Calle Metge Miguel Martorell, with a budget of €854,885.07."

Thus, Toni Pérez stated that "in a very short time, we will almost completely renovate one of the most emblematic and recognisable spaces in our urban fabric, because contrary to what others would have us believe, Benidorm concerns us and occupies us, every day and at all hours."

Finally, the mayor lamented that, "as has already happened with many other infrastructure projects, this project should have been financed and executed by the State, but what we have found is a further failure to fulfill its responsibility in what is probably the only municipality in Spain with a seafront promenade where the Ministry fails to fulfill its authority and responsibility." Therefore, he expressed confidence that, "at least, the authorizations to carry out the project will be processed diligently and not delayed. That is all we are currently aspiring to."

About ‘Green Benidorm’

The Sustainable Tourism Destination Plan "Green Benidorm 2024-2026" has received €5,500,000 in funding from the European Union's Next Generation funds. These funds will be used to implement 16 initiatives to achieve a more sustainable and digital Benidorm that advances in energy efficiency and combats climate change, and continues to invest in protecting the region.

With this Sustainable Tourism Destination Plan (STD), Benidorm City Council is certifying and recognizing the destination's sustainability as part of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan, financed with European Union funds - Next Generation EU, and included in the Valencian Community Territorial Sustainability Plan (TPS) and coordinated by Turisme Comunitat Valenciana (Tourisme Comunitat Valenciana).