- Town Hall’s failure to deliver essential access routes halts summer debut of new commercial hub
The much-anticipated opening of the new Paseo del Mar leisure area in the Port of Torrevieja has been postponed, following delays in critical municipal infrastructure projects.
Initially slated to welcome visitors this August, the project has now been pushed back indefinitely, impacting plans for a vibrant summer season.
Despite tight construction schedules over the past months, the definitive reason for the delay stems from the Council’s failure to complete pedestrian access works that are essential to linking the leisure complex to the town centre.
The 20,000-square-meter plot, located in a prime area and leased for 50 years by the Generalitat Valenciana to a consortium of construction and real estate companies from the Vega Baja region, has already seen a €40 million investment in construction.
The complex was set to house major hospitality brands like Vips, Ginos, Casa Carmen, Lateral, La Rollerie, McDonald’s, and Starbucks across 21 premises totalling 8,000 square metres. However, each brand requires months of preparation for their premises and staff and were unwilling to commit without a firm opening date.
Operators also expressed concerns about launching amidst ongoing construction work, which could dampen the complex’s appeal to visitors and tourists.
Two key infrastructure projects managed by the Council have notably fallen behind schedule. The first, the remodelling of the Levante dike promenade and the creation of a pedestrian walkway linking the port to the town, carrying a budget of €2.9 million.
Though awarded last December, work has yet to get underway. Meanwhile, the €1.6 million renovation of the historic Mínguez Pier, vital for the construction of the connecting walkway, has only recently started after a three-month delay. This renovation will expose and protect the original stonework of the pier, which will be framed by seawater as part of the restoration.
Additionally, extensive works are underway to adapt the northern port area into a new fairground, an operation costing €3.6 million. This project has significantly altered the landscape, removing the old Paseo de La Libertad promenade and most of its palm and ficus trees. Over 200 craft vendor stalls were relocated to allow for the transformation.
Although some progress has been made – particularly on the cantilevered promenade leading from the Levante breakwater to the lighthouse, scheduled for completion in July – the overall pace of construction has slowed following the postponement decision.
The decision not to open in the summer has also affected the pace of construction on the leisure area, where the partition walls are complete, but the structure of the multiplex cinema, with a volume and height that completely obscure the view of the bay, remains unfinished.
The delay also postpones the uncertainty of many front-line hoteliers who see the Paseo del Mar as a threat to their businesses.
Meanwhile, the removal of architectural barriers, like the perimeter fence separating the dock from the town centre, marks a significant change in the urban landscape.
One piece of infrastructure that has opened on schedule is the new underground parking facility, offering 640 spaces. Inaugurated during Easter by Regional Minister Vicente Martínez Mus, the car park aims to ease access to the port area, though signage directing traffic to the facility is still pending.
Meanwhile, the relocation of the town’s traditional “hippie” market to a greenway next to La Estación Park has been completed, albeit with some missing amenities, such as electricity. The move cost the City Council over €200,000, and while around 120 of the 200 original vendors have relocated, those who have not yet moved can still return later without losing their right to a stall.
In another development, the Council has approved a tax exemption for fairground operators temporarily located in the Antonio Soria Park, recognising the impact of the ongoing construction. This measure, pending formal approval at the next plenary session, suggests that the fairground will likely remain at the temporary site for a third consecutive summer.
Despite accelerated work by the Grupo Hozono construction company, prospects for reopening the fairground at the port before summer remain slim, raising concerns about lower public turnout compared to previous years at the prime port location.
