Roundabout for accident blackspot
A total of €450,000 is being spent on road safety measures
THE CONSTRUCTION of a long-awaited roundabout at the dangerous junction linking Eagle’s Nest to Blue Lagoon and Villamartín is due to start this week, San Miguel de Salinas council spokeswoman Nerea Gracia told Costa Blanca News.
The project is being funded by the provincial government and the town hall. It had been included in Alicante province's annual infrastructure plan for 2017 with a budget of €450,000.
The roundabout will be 31 metres wide and will have four access points as three busy streets meet at the junction, which stands on a slope between San Miguel de Salinas and Orihuela Costa. According to the plans, the connections to the junction will be altered to make it more accessible.
Sra Gracia explained that some nearby roads will be improved as part of the scheme – and repair works along the Las Filipinas road to El Limonar International School have also been included.
According to the plans, Calle Las Filipinas will be resurfaced and a pavement will be built.
Additionally, Calle Los Rosales will be widened and a pavement built, and Avenida del Nido and Calle C next to Calle Antillas will be resurfaced.
Historic problems
The ‘dodgy’ junction connects San Miguel de Salinas and its urbanisations with Orihuela Costa and Zenia Boulevard shopping centre. It has historically caused confusion for drivers – leading to a number of accidents over the years.
Sra Gracia admitted that traffic would have to be diverted at the busy junction during the building works, but they would try to cause ‘the least inconvenience possible’ to motorists.
She assured the roundabout ‘is much needed’.
“We have received many complaints from drivers over broken wheels because the tarmac is in terrible condition and it is full of potholes,” she said.
According to Sra Gracia, the council was told at the beginning of the year that the works would be started in March, but the project had to be delayed due to the state of emergency.
The aim was to have the scheme finished before the summer, but now the work will be carried out during the high summer season.
The project is expected to be completed in three months.