The park-and-ride facilities that were designed to reduce the reluctance of residential visitors to visit the center of Torrevieja during peak season will not be prepared for this summer, which is anticipated to be a record-breaking one for tourism in the city, unless unforeseen circumstances arise. The sole focus will be on the provisional adaptation of a 14,000-square-meter municipal plot of land that is currently operating irregularly for this purpose. This property is situated between the Acequión school and the N-332.
The sole distinction between the existing parking area and the one that will be accessible this summer is that the latter will feature enhanced traffic flow and a nearby shuttle bus stop for the new service to the port area, in the event that visitors prefer to forgo the walk. Parking will continue to be free for the time being.
Out of six alternatives, four are viable
At a press conference that followed a city council meeting, Federico Alarcón, the city councillor responsible for traffic, disclosed that the company that was contracted to develop the park-and-ride facility project on six municipal sites has already submitted it. The City Council anticipates that the initiative will concentrate on four of these plots. Almost all of them are situated in close proximity to the CV-95 and N-332 highways. The Antonio Soria Park parking lot, which spans over 80,000 square meters and is utilised for major concerts and the weekly Friday market, is the most significant.
The City Council intends to outsource the administration of the parking lot that is being adapted this summer, despite the fact that it will be free. We propose that the municipality assume responsibility for the cost and execution of the adaptation works, while a private corporation will oversee them. “This will be in exchange for a symbolic price of one euro per day,” Alarcón clarified, underscoring that it will be entirely distinct from the parking network in the city centre, which operates at standard commercial rates.
Concession and blue zone in conjunction
Additionally, the administration of the paid parking zone will be awarded through a joint tender. This zone will regulate parking in expansive areas of the city centre and the beaches, and the successful bidder will be accountable for these parking facilities. For years, the necessity of this form of parking has been emphasised by a variety of opposition groups to the PP-led government.
Other nearby cities, such as Orihuela and Pilar de la Horadada, have enabled them in municipal spaces and on private properties in exchange for a discount on the IBI (Property Tax). The latter cities have experienced significantly fewer issues in this regard.
After the pandemic, the issue of population and congestion in the centre of Torrevieja, which had existed for years, was exacerbated. Consequently, numerous visitors hesitate to drive into the city centre on any summer evening.
However, the City Council is taking a risk this summer due to the upcoming introduction of the new port leisure centre, which includes an underground parking lot and the redevelopment of the port area. One of the pending issues is the adaptation of traffic flows.
The Irrigation Ditch
The park-and-ride facility that will be constructed adjacent to the N-332 highway will be capable of accommodating 255 vehicles. The PP (People’s Party) governing team has stated that “these actions fulfil the commitment to create a spacious and functional parking area, improving accessibility and traffic flow in the area.”
The proposed activities will involve the complete cleaning and clearing of the plot, which includes the removal of the existing vegetation. Additionally, an accumulation of inert materials and refuse is present near the road embankment. Subsequently, the ground will be compacted, primed, and completed with a layer of gravel to establish “a continuous, resilient surface that is suitable for vehicle parking.” Another municipal allotment, situated between Avenida de la Estación, the salt canal, Avenida Urbano Arregui, and the N-332 highway, is adjacent to this parking area. This plot is also occasionally utilised as a parking lot during the summer.
The enhancements
The Torrevieja City Council has announced that a future development project is in the process of being developed. This project will include the introduction of vegetation to improve the landscape and environmental surroundings, as well as the implementation of specific paving solutions to facilitate the proper drainage and management of rainwater. The project also encompasses the implementation of an access control system, ATMs, and other service facilities, in addition to LED lighting. Once the contract is awarded, these components will be included in the other sites where park-and-ride facilities are being considered. The estimated cost of these components is €600,000.
Million-dollar expropriation
This parking lot has been extensively utilised for the same purpose for many years, albeit irregularly, and is currently full for the majority of June, July, August, and September, despite the governing team’s reluctance to acknowledge it. It is an unfenced municipal parcel of land. The Acequión school was not expanded due to its proximity to the road, which is currently constructed on an embankment. The land was expropriated from the owner’s family by the City Council for a substantial sum of 14 million euros.
Although the land was privately owned, it was designated for public facilities in the General Urban Development Plan (PGOU). The City Council did not take any action to compensate for the expropriation between the approval of the PGOU in 1986 and 2010. The compensation was obtained by the proprietors through litigation. At that time, it was guaranteed that a green space would be constructed. In fact, it was even contemplated during Eduardo Dolón’s second term as mayor (2019-2023). In the end, it will function as a car park.
