Pedal power to the fore
Cycling routes are to be improved and extended
THE NETWORK of cycle paths in Alicante province and Murcia region is being extended.
An 18kilometrelong bike lane will be constructed along La Manga del Mar Menor to promote alternative means of transport and reduce traffic jams in the summer.
Regional and local authorities announced on Monday that it will link the northern and the southern ends of the strip and will ‘ take advantage’ of the existing poorlymaintained lanes.
The project is budgeted at € 1.2 million, with 80% of this contributed by the EU.
A regional government spokesman explained that the existing stretches will be renovated, properly signposted and provided with traffic signs – and new zones will be built to link them up.
The cycle path starts at the taxi stop at the entrance to La Manga del Mar Menor and finishes at kilometre 18 near the Veneziola area.
The spokesman noted that parking areas for bikes and shaded zones for cyclists will be constructed at the Jessica and Acapulco plazas. The lane will be painted blue with antislip paint and separated from the road to protect cyclists.
Cycle into Redován
Work has started to extend the cycle path along the CV919 between La Campaneta in rural Orihuela and Redován to connect it with the town centre.
It originally ended at the roundabout where Avenida de la Constitución begins but an extra 450 metres is being added so cyclists can enjoy an uninterrupted ride.
The path is four metres wide with a lane for travelling in each direction, and there are kerb stones between it and the road for protection.
The work is being carried out by the regional government at a cost of approximately € 170,000 and it is scheduled to be finished in midOctober.
Green route
A new ninekilometrelong stretch of the ‘ Vía Verde del Chicharra’ green way between Yecla and Villena is planned for
pedestrians and cyclists, with a budget of € 300,000.
The stretch partly follows the old railway starting at Yecla’s train station and passes through fruit tree groves to reach Villena.
In addition 400 trees will be planted, and two rest areas and a picnic area will be built.
The works are planned to take around four months.
Regional councillor for tourism
Cristina Sánchez announced that additional stretches will be repaired and built at Jumilla and Cieza in the coming months and they were waiting for the councils to sign over the land.
She noted that green ways promote sustainable and safe tourism in the wintertime and boost the economy of inland towns.