Orihuela Costa tackles flood prevention at key underpass

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The project, which had previously stalled, will involve the installation of a stormwater evacuation collector.
The project, which had previously stalled, will involve the installation of a stormwater evacuation collector.

Spanish

Efforts to address flooding at the N-332 underpass in Playa Flamenca have resumed following the long-awaited approval from the Segura Hydrographic Confederation (CHS).

The project, which had previously stalled, will involve the installation of a stormwater evacuation collector. This infrastructure will redirect water through Calles Violetas and Jazmines to the Cañada de la Mosca, mitigating flood risks in the area.

This initiative forms part of the priority actions outlined in the Basic Study of the Sustainable Drainage Development Plan of Orihuela Costa. Developed in collaboration with Hidraqua, the municipal sewerage service manager, the project has been put out to tender with a base budget of €660,217.94. The work will include a one-year guarantee period, and an additional tender has been issued for project management at a cost of €33,010.

Flooding in Orihuela Costa is a persistent issue due to poor urban planning. Heavy rains lead to surface runoff, which accumulates in low-lying areas such as the underpasses of the N-332 at Calle José María Sicilia and Calle Gerardo Rueda. To address this, the planned 396-meter-long collector will transport water from these underpasses to the discharge point, following a route through Calle Violetas and Calle Jazmines.

Progress in Villamartin and Las Espeñetas

Since the current government took office, all first-phase projects under the Vega Renhace Plan have been moved forward. Funded by the previous Consell to support municipalities affected by the 2019 flood, a new collector has been installed at another flood-prone area: the intersection of Calle Mariano Torregrosa and San Miguel Road in Villamartín.

This project, tendered in September 2023 for €321,217, has now been completed. Additionally, new drainage systems have been implemented on Avenida del Cabo in Cabo Roig at a cost of €52,000 to prevent further flooding.

In the Orihuela city center, the government has initiated the expropriation process for three plots intended for the construction of a new collector in the Las Espeñetas area. This infrastructure will channel rainwater from Monte de San Miguel and the Sierra de Orihuela directly into the Segura River.

Furthermore, another collector is in the planning stages for Avenida de la Constitución, with a projected budget of €881,000.

These projects represent significant steps toward improving flood resilience in Orihuela and its surrounding areas, addressing long-standing issues caused by inadequate drainage infrastructure.

Spanish