Benidorm begins the renovation of Levante catenary that will affect 40 columns, 80 projectors and almost 1,600 light points

Benidorm City Council has begun the renovation of the Levante catenary, one of the most iconic images of the promenade, which will affect the section that runs from Plaza del Torrejó to Avenida Europa. In total, the execution of this action will be carried out on 40 columns, so another 40 luminaires that focus on the promenade, 80 projectors that focus on the beach, and a total of 1,566 luminaires that run between the columns will be renewed.

The intervention involves an investment of 1,972,119.41 euros that will be financed with municipal resources charged to the treasury remnants because it is a financially sustainable project since the reduction in energy power will be 33.65%. Forecasts suggest that before Easter the renovation will be completed and the new catenary operational.

Mayor Toni Pérez visited the performance this morning, accompanied by the Councilor for Public Space, José Ramón González de Zárate, and municipal technicians, and there he pointed out that "the existing luminaires on the columns will be replaced in their entirety". The mayor has also highlighted "the significant reduction in consumption that this action entails since the installed power once completed will be more than 33% lower than the current one, only in this first phase of renovation".

The Levante catenary dates from the 1990s and has elements in a significant state of deterioration that have reached the end of their useful life. "For this reason and the need to adapt the outdoor lighting infrastructures to the Energy Efficiency Regulation is why we have decided to undertake the comprehensive renovation of the catenary" Pérez indicated.

Thus, the columns present widespread corrosion and the structural capacity of these elements is in question. Deterioration in the form of cracks and fissures in the anchoring of the columns and signs of oxidation in the steel cables have also been detected, which could affect their tensile capacity. In addition, the electrical connection boxes, located in niches at the level of the beach sand, are prone to breakdowns due to the entry of sand and seawater in stormy episodes. And neither is the light points adapted to the Energy Efficiency regulations.

The project, explained the mayor, contemplates "the replacement of the current columns with others of an exclusive design for Benidorm that incorporates a high protection system for marine environments. There is an important prior industrial development work behind it since it deals with non-standardized elements and is made exclusively for Benidorm”.

At the moment, the work is focused on disassembling the infrastructure and checking the state of the foundation. Subsequently, it is planned to clean up and condition the anchors for the assembly of the new light points or, if necessary, completely renew the foundation.

The intervention will incorporate a new element of urban furniture consisting of a precast concrete bench, attached to the new columns that will also serve as a cabinet to locate the electrical connection boxes and control elements.

One of the novelties that will be implemented in the new catenary is the possibility of creating lighting compositions of all kinds, ranging from colored lighting, dynamic compositions, transitions, or various sets through a system that will allow lighting to be monitored, programmed, and controlled. To this end, a public tender has even been considered to award ornamental lighting. "Once we have the infrastructure and technology, what can be done with the lights depends on the imagination of the illuminator" pointed out the mayor.