The dazzling hue of the stainless steel railings and handrails along 1,300 linear metres of the cantilevered promenade on the Levante breakwater in Torrevieja has rapidly faded since the space reopened to pedestrians last Easter. Over the past six months, the material has become covered in rust-like stains, affecting the joints, welds and overall structure.
This issue is occurring for the second time in a year. The local council, which promoted the promenade renovation costing more than six million euro, previously halted the project to remove installed railings that presented a similar problem. That delay contributed to the project being delivered eight months behind schedule.
During the initial incident, materials testing confirmed the steel met the high quality and alloy specifications required in the tender documents, but found it had been contaminated by bacteria during transport and plastic packaging. A replacement batch was supplied by a leading company based in Barcelona. However, municipal technicians have observed the problem resurfacing in recent weeks. It is particularly widespread on the handrails and railings of the west-facing access stairs towards the bay, and slightly less visible on the side facing the port and sea. The affected areas display a moisture film, dust, and an oxidized appearance.
Sandra Sánchez, Councillor for Services and Public Works, stated that an independent laboratory has been contracted to investigate the cause. The findings will dictate the next steps while the project remains under warranty. Sánchez acknowledged the appearance of the railings is unsatisfactory, but explained that frequent manual cleaning by municipal crews is unfeasible due to a lack of resources and the underlying condition of the steel.
The renovated promenade, originally built in 1999, covers 1,247 linear metres and cost €6,543,733, including VAT. The work was carried out by CHM Obras e Infraestructuras, beginning in November 2024. Improvements include continuous composite wood paving, updated safety features, and a prefabricated concrete bench designed to serve as a breakwater.
Access at the main entrance near the Hombre del Mar monument remains partially restricted while adjacent construction on a new leisure centre continues, with full access expected by November.
The project also features a high-efficiency RGB public lighting system financed through Next Generation EU funds. Costing 895,073 euro within the wider budget, the system alternates daily between the colours of the Spanish flag and the Torrevieja municipal flag.
Despite signs outlining rules against bicycles, scooters, alcohol consumption, and street vending, wear and tear such as tyre tracks and litter has already been noted on the composite wood flooring.
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