Torrevieja Council has banned pedestrians from using the La Hoya bridge over the N-332 after warnings that the crossing has become increasingly dangerous.
New no-entry signs for pedestrians have been installed on the bridge linking the La Hoya residential area with Avenida Monge y Bielsa, Delfina Viudes and Cortes Valencianas.
But despite the ban, pedestrians are still using the same narrow dirt tracks between the bridge embankment and the roadside crash barriers — an improvised route with no pavements, no proper protection and drops of more than seven metres in places.
The move follows a warning from the territorial roads department of the Ministry of Transport, which told the council that traffic over the bridge had intensified and that pedestrian use could pose a serious risk.
Traffic councillor Federico Alarcón said the notice was received by the Urban Planning department on April 14. Because the bridge is municipally owned, Torrevieja Council was responsible for installing the warning signs.
Four signs were placed last Wednesday, one at each side of the bridge in both directions. The installation came just two days after press reports highlighted how pedestrians were continuing to use the dangerous unofficial path to cross the bridge.
The route is especially hazardous because the bridge has only one lane in each direction and no pedestrian pavement. At some points, walkers pass between the traffic barrier and an unprotected slope overlooking the N-332 below.
The increase in traffic is linked to the opening of roads in Phase I of the large La Hoya development. Drivers using the CV-905 now use the bridge to access the north-eastern part of Torrevieja, avoiding congestion in the town centre.
Traffic has also grown because of the first residents moving into La Hoya, which is planned to eventually contain up to 7,400 homes. More than 200 employees of a real estate company, along with hundreds of construction workers travelling daily to new housing blocks and commercial zones, are also using the area.
Long before the current growth in traffic, the bridge was already regularly used on foot by students from nearby schools and by users of the Palacio de los Deportes.
However, the new signs are not being respected. Many pedestrians appear not to notice them, while others continue to use the route to avoid walking hundreds of extra metres.
The signs do, however, allow the council to argue that pedestrians have been warned and that the municipality is no longer responsible if an accident occurs.
The bridge has become a bottleneck. Roads leading to it now have two lanes in each direction, but the bridge itself still has only one lane each way. At peak times, vehicles already queue to cross, while the increasing use of scooters and bicycles has made the lack of space even more obvious.
The developer of La Hoya is expected to fund and carry out the widening of the bridge, including doubling the deck, creating proper pedestrian access and installing lighting. The estimated cost is around €2.5 million.
But the project has not yet started. Before work can begin, Torrevieja Council must complete administrative procedures and coordinate with the Ministry of Transport’s roads department. That process has still not been initiated.
The bridge upgrade is not expected to be completed before mid-2027, and may not go ahead until Phase III of the 1.8 million-square-metre urban development advances.
Talks are now taking place between the council and the consortium behind the development about whether the pedestrian crossing could be brought forward before the full traffic-lane expansion.
Meanwhile, the council continues to approve major building licences for new homes in Phase I of La Hoya, while commercial projects, including a Bauhaus store near Avenida José Carreras, are also under construction.
For residents, students and workers, the situation remains stark: the only direct route across the bridge is now officially banned to pedestrians, but the alternative is longer and less convenient — leaving many still choosing a dangerous path over one of Torrevieja’s busiest roads.
