The new footbridge has finally arrived in Mil Palmeras. The bridge, to replace the one demolished by the Dana storms, that have cut off a popular pedestrian route with Torre de la Horadada for four years, reached its destination on Thursday after traveling approximately 900 from Asturias, where it has been assembled.
Split into two sections that have been transported aboard two large-tonnage trailers, its arrival in Mil Palmeras has raised attracted dozens of onlookers who did not want to miss the ‘show’. After Calle Fernando de Rojas was emptied of cars a complicated manoeuvre saw the structure placed parallel to one of the banks of the boulevard prior to the two pieces being joined together.
The work carrying out the assembly of the bridge will have to wait a little longer until the crane can safely lift the walkway and place it on the two concrete pillars that will support the structure which is made entirely of wood. This is purely because the recent rain has softened up the adjacent ground so it is not yet firm enough to carry out this next step.
The new infrastructure, once mounted on the riverbed, will create a single span 36.66 metres in length and 3.50 metres wide, resting on two concrete abutments.
The walkway is made up of a wooden truss in the shape of an arch without intermediate pillars, in order to comply with the requirement of the Segura Hydrographic Confederation and the Territorial Coastal Service, so as to improve the drainage capacity of the river. Permits from both institutions, according to the City Council, have delayed administrative procedures for more than two years.
On August 24, 2022, the Pilareño City Council published the technical and administrative specifications for the contracting of the works on the State Contracting Platform. On November 8, the contracting was awarded to the company Infraestructuras y Ferrocarriles SL as the best offer. The works have a value of 290,080.56 euros (VAT included) and have an execution period of five months.
