Humanising historic Elche
TRANSFORMATION of the historic quarter of Elche city centre began on Monday, with work to pedestrianise the Plaza de Baix and the street known as La Corredora.
Mobility councillor Esther Díez said it will put Elche on the level of other European cities that have decided to ‘humanise’ their historic areas, ‘making them friendlier and cleaner so they are more attractive for tourism and to help reactivate the retail sector’.
Town planning councillor Ana Arabid said it will be a change ‘towards a city designed to be used and enjoyed by people rather than cars’.
She explained the work will consist of removing the paving from the plaza and fitting marble cobbles with motifs based on Iberian art from ancient ceramics found in the local area.
Meanwhile the Corredora will be resurfaced up to the same level as the pavements, in order to create a large pedestrian area with lighting embedded in the new paving.
The total area is 5,200 square metres and the budget is €540,000, with a scheduled completion date of November 3.
La Corredora will be tackled in two six-week phases, starting from the Plaza to Calle Obispo Tormo, then from there to the Puente Ortices bridge, while the work in the plaza will continue throughout the three months.
Four bus routes have been changed (E, F, J and H), all the information about which is on the website www.auesa.com and the application Bus Elche.
The project is linked to traffic calming measures being brought in across the city centre, in line with EU recommendations, said Sra Díez.
Vehicle access will be limited to residents, emergency services, shop workers, services companies and people using public car parks.
These restrictions will commence in October, by when the concessionary company plans to have installed cameras.