ARCHIVED - Alfaz del Pi green lights direct access to Albir via new N-332 roundabout

A roundabout will be built at the Avinguda de l'Albir and Camí de la Mar intersection in the Marina Baixa town, Alicante province

In a bid to improve mobility between Alfaz del Pi town centre and Albir beach, a project being advanced by the Town Hall through the EDUSI 'healthy terrirory' Strategy, the council has given initial approval to a direct access lane via a future roundabout on the N-332.

At a meeting of the plenary session, Alfaz council gave the go-ahead to the forced expropriation of land to create the connecting road to Albir.

The access will be via a new roundabout at the intersection between Avinguda de l'Albir and Camí de la Mar.

After the meeting, local government spokesperson, Toni Such, explained that the project is being carried out in different phases, two of which are already underway.

"What we are doing now is expropriating 200 m² to enable a direct access lane to Albir from the new roundabout projected at what is known as the McDonalds intersection. The initiative is aimed at improving the circulation of vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists and avoiding retentions," he added.

Also read: N-332 Benissa bypass opens following 38 million euro investment

The scheme is part of a slew of initiatives to promote sustainable urban mobility and improving town centre links with Albir beach by reordering road traffic, improving pedestrian and cyclist safety and promoting intermodal transport.

The first phase of the project began in April with the creation of a bike lane on Avenida Constitución and the rehabilitation of the Camí de la Mar cycle lane.

The current intersection between these two streets is also being scrapped with the construction of a roundabout and TRAM accessibility is being improved.

The work is expected to take four months at a cost of 605,000 euros, 50% of which is co-financed with ERDF Funds.

The second phase is also underway and incorporates the extension of the Camí de la Mar cycle path to Avenida l'Albir, linking up with the TRAM station and Avenida Sant Pere with a cycle lane.

And two roundabouts are also being built at the junction with Camí de la Mar and Avenida Sant Pere to enhance traffic movement on the N-332.

More than 1km of two-way bike lanes, together with pedestrian crossings, will be created and public lighting, drainage networks and drinking water supply infrastructure will be overhauled at a cost of almost 1.4 million euros, again co-financed with FEDER Funds.

The project is part of the Alfaz del Pi EDUSA 'Halthy Territory' plan which aims to improve road safety and create a healthy sustainable town with an overall investment of 10 million euros, (50% with ERDF Funds), through the Plurriregional Operational Program of Spain 2014 – 2020 (POPE).

Image: Ayuntamiento de Alfaz del Pi