The City Council will invest almost one million euros before the end of the year in improving the city center

Next week, the work to finish Tomás Ortuño that will be pedestrian, will begin. A work that will increase the exclusive path of pedestrians and that will affect practically all of the adjacent roads. "It will act in a total of 23 streets," said the councilman of Urban Scene, José Ramón González de Zárate, in what he considered to be "the most important work of 2017", with an investment by the City Council of "approximately one million euros".

The work was tendered for 727,827.72 euros but the Temporary Union of Companies (UTE), composed of Sigma Infraestructuras SL and Promed Consulting SL proposed an improvement of 29.51%, which will eventually mean an investment of 942,609.68 euros This will allow, stressed De Zárate, "that the entire area of Tomás Ortuño become a pedestrian", with the exception of the fords that will exit and enter the closest route. The councilor said that "actions have been planned in Apolo XI, Schools, Carrascos, Garita, San Jose Craftsman, Maravall, Marques de Comillas, Tomás Ortuño, Uranus, Mars, etc.", in "practically all the streets in the triangle included between Jaime I and Ruzafa street ".

The Department has foreseen that the works are fully completed on December 31, unless there are unforeseen events "such as heavy rains last year" and some subsequent improvements. The works contemplate the restructuring of all the pipelines of drinking water, sewage, sanitation, telecommunications and electricity, "in all the underground services of Tomás Ortuño", and a collector of water collection with which you can practically guarantee that except with rain Exceptionally intense "there will be no more floods in Tomás Ortuño", the mayor explained.

The success of the pedestrian area

González de Zárate believes that the pedestrian zone of Tomás Ortuño has been "a success". "In the part that runs between Garita and Mercado streets there have been no problems, neither loading and unloading, nor the vehicles." Now you can see that "people walk quietly, enjoying our businesses, our bars and restaurants" when not so long the vans "stuck with the mirrors to people who were on the sidewalks." However, the City Council is aware of the proposed work will be annoying neighbors, to whom González de Zárate has requested "patience and understanding. When you see the results you will also see that it was worth it. "

The conversion into a pedestrian area of this central area of Benidorm will mean changes in the direction of traffic of vehicles that will affect streets such as Marqués de Comillas and Maravall and major improvements in the whole urban scene. The paving will be done with materials similar to those already pedestrianized in terms of qualities, colors and format. The section where the retried vehicle circulation will be allowed will show dark gray granite paving stones with a flamed finish and edges. For the pedestrian area, light gray tiles have been chosen, also with a flamed finish and serrated edges. Tree stands will be made of rubber flush with the sidewalk and slow-growing perennial trees will be planted that will change the physiognomy of this central Benidorm road, which will also be equipped with the same street furniture for the pedestrian zone. past.