The Structural General Plan currently being prepared by Alicante City Council includes plans to convert the coastal railway line into a pedestrian and cycle green corridor. The route, which runs along the seafront towards Central Park, will be freed up following the implementation of the Torrellano Variant and a proposed new underground rail access to the Port.
This new corridor will connect the coastal line directly with Alicante city centre and the airport, offering a significant opportunity to strengthen the metropolitan green infrastructure network. The project will begin with the development of the OI/8 area in the Parque del Mar sector. A proposed agreement for this site has already been sent to Adif, with plans to advance the scheme through a specific modification of the existing urban planning regulations.
Antonio Peral, the Councillor for Urban Planning, highlighted that transforming the railway line into a green corridor represents a strategic opportunity to move towards a more sustainable and connected city model. He noted that eliminating the urban barrier created by the tracks will benefit the environment and local mobility, optimise land use, and enhance the urban quality of nearby existing and planned neighbourhoods.
One branch of the railway line passes through two industrial estates, Florida Babel and Polígono Rabasa. These areas are slated for conversion into new residential districts in the west of the city through structural transformation operations involving 12,300 new homes. The green corridor is expected to drive urban regeneration in these locations and revitalise areas such as San Gabriel, connecting them to the coast.
In addition, the route will establish a direct green link between the city and the airport, encouraging sustainable mobility. Key goals include integrating the scheme with the 19-kilometre Green Belt and Central Park, creating a pedestrian and cycle connection between the airport and the Port, restoring the natural environment, and improving links between existing and new neighbourhoods.
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