Villajoyosa bridge to be widened further

In the ongoing rehabilitation project, the Calle Cervantes bridge over the Rio Amadorio will be widened by one metre in excess of the original plan. The bridge restoration project, which was initiated in November 2024 and was draughted in 2021, initially concentrated on the correction of damage caused by the passage of time, including water leaks and humidity in the structure. The local government has made the decision to incorporate significant technical and functional modifications in order to ensure the long-term durability of the infrastructure and substantially improve accessibility and mobility on the bridge, as explained by the councillor for urban planning, Pedro Ramis. Specifically, the works have revealed deficiencies in past expansions.

Between 1840 and 1878, this infrastructure was constructed. The board was subsequently expanded in the 1950s, and the modifications were implemented to organise the pavements and lights. Ramis elucidates that ‘until the pavement of one of the sidewalks was raised, it was discovered that a fundamental component of the board that was the subject of expansion in the 1950s was inadequately executed. This was due to the fact that the load distribution slab, which was intended to anchor both the railing and the lights, had not been completed. Consequently, a much more ambitious action was necessary, not merely a restoration, but a structural one, to guarantee the stability of this fun

The project will be modified to include the construction of a new concrete slab, which will enhance the bridge’s total width and allow for the creation of pavements that are approximately two metres wide. Similarly, the railing and luminaires will be replaced with more contemporary and lightweight components, which will also contribute to the expansion of the functional width.

At present, efforts are being made to finalise the project’s specifics, assess the cost, and predict the duration of execution for these modifications. The local government’s objective is to minimise the inconvenience to citizens by completing the works in the minimum possible time. This bridge is a critical component of the municipality’s mobility infrastructure, as it facilitates both pedestrian and vehicular traffic. It links the Plaça de la Generalitat to Carrer Cervantes.