ARCHIVED - Torrevieja Mayor sceptical on plans for dual carriageway

The Spanish government hopes to begin work on the N-332 dual carriageway soon

José Manuel Dolón, the Mayor of Torrevieja, appears sceptical about a letter which the Town Hall has received from the Ministry of Development in the national government announcing that work to convert the N-332 road in the municipality into a dual carriageway will begin "soon".

He also expressed concern over the inclusion of the need to also build a floodwater drainage system, which will cost an estimated 8.9 million euros. This amount covers only the western part of the road, where safety is more of an issue, but to cover the eastern area a further 16 million euros would be required, and Sr Dolón is adamant that the drainage plans were always an integral part of the project.

In addition, in order to start the works the budget has to be approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment to ensure that the plans comply with state road regulations and the project must pass the environmental assessment.

José Manuel Dolón will therefore be closely monitoring the proceedings, and points out that there is no record of him signing the agreement to execute the works. 

In the letter from the Ministry of Development it is stated that the municipalities of Orihuela and Pilar de la Horadada have already given their consent for the construction of the dual carriageway, although according to Sr Dolón there is no evidence of the City Council of Torrevieja having agreed. In addition, the Mayor reports that he has no knowledge of any agreement between the Ministry of Development, the Valencian regional government and the Town Hall.