Builder allocated for emergency centre
Start date for construction project is not yet known
THE CONTRACT to build the long-awaited emergency services centre in Orihuela Costa was awarded to the construction company Doalco by the council board on Tuesday.
The budget runs to nearly €2.1 million.
Local councillor for emergencies Víctor Valverde told Costa Blanca News that the department for contracts is working on a separate tender for the architectural supervision of the project, which he expected to be ready in around two weeks. Both contracts have to be signed before the building work can begin.
However, the start date has not yet been revealed as all construction activity is currently prohibited under the national government’s modifications to the state of emergency.
He also noted that other companies who made offers for the contract will be able to submit objections to the council’s decision once the state of emergency has finished, which could also delay the start date.
Sr Valverde pointed out that once construction activity is allowed again, the council’s and the company’s engineers will visit the site and sign a document that authorises the work to begin.
He said the builder has a six-month deadline to complete the work starting from the day the document is signed.
According to the agreement signed in February 2019 between the council and the regional government – which is financing the project – the centre has to be completed before the end of this year.
However, Sr Valverde said: “We understand that this deadline will be extended because all deadlines for administrative procedures have been halted during the state of emergency and construction activities have been temporarily prohibited.
“It is a matter of common sense.”
The chosen company offered to make several improvements to the plans, such as a covered parking area for the emergency services, a lighting system for the heliport, an outdoor staircase to the first floor and tiling the first floor, which will not be used at first so will be left unfinished.