Adif has put out to tender the contract for works to eliminate two level crossings on the conventional El Reguerón-Alacant Terminal railway line, located in the Pla de Sant Josep area within the municipality of Elche, for an amount of 4.62 million euro.
The removal of these two crossings, situated at kilometre points 25/600 and 25/797 of the conventional line, involves the construction of a new nearby overpass. This will consist of a single-span structure with a 25-metre clearance over the track, designed to be compatible with a potential future expansion of the railway lines. It will feature two 3-metre lanes for vehicles, 0.5-metre hard shoulders, handrails and anti-vandalism barriers.
A construction solution based on beams and precast prestressed concrete elements will be used for its execution, which will significantly reduce completion times and minimise the impact on railway operations.
Furthermore, the project includes the construction of a retaining wall up to 12 metres high on one of the sections parallel to the railway line to protect the irrigation canal that supplies the area.
This scheme comes in addition to the recently tendered 2.9 million euro project to eliminate two other level crossings in Elche located at kilometre points 27/764 and 28/962 of the railway line, near the district of Matola.
For that particular project, several connecting roads and paths will be established to redirect vehicular traffic towards existing underpasses in the vicinity. These paths will guarantee access to agricultural plots and isolated residential buildings located within this rural environment of the Elche municipality.
Additionally, a new accessible footbridge will be built to guarantee continuity and safety for pedestrians and the cycling itinerary in this sector.
These works form part of the actions planned within the Valencian Community Cercanías Plan and aim to improve mobility for residents and the transverse permeability of the railway network through new alternative routes as it passes through the capital of the Baix Vinalopó region in Alicante.
At the same time, these interventions will increase safety conditions across the transport infrastructure for rail traffic, road traffic and pedestrians alike.
