article_detail
Date Published: 07/10/2021
ARCHIVED - Gaping hole in Alicante footbridge remains unfixed 18 months after being damaged
Residents have made repeated calls for urgent repairs to the footbridge at Alicante’s Postiguet beach
Concerned residents in Alicante fear a gaping hole in the bottom of a footbridge to Postiguet beach will remain a risk to public safety until “something unfortunate happens”.
A fire engine crashed into the structure in the summer of 2020, and despite repeated calls from locals to fix the damage, the city council has instead placed tape across the gash in the base of the bridge.
In October 2020, the council assured the footbridge was “in the process of being repaired by the insurance company following an accident in which a fire engine was involved”.
But a year on, the tape remains, clearly visible to anybody who walks underneath it. Residents believe proper repairs have not been carried out “because the walkway itself has not been affected”, although it still poses a serious risk.
The footbridge was remodelled in 2011 at a cost of just over 300,000 euros, in which a new, lighter and more corrosion-resistant material and night-time lighting were installed to give it “a more modern feel”.
The project also included the installation of a lift to make the walkway accessible to the elderly, people with mobility problems, and parents with pushchairs, but there have been “several incidents” over the last few years, with people becoming trapped inside.
The lift has also “malfunctioned or broken down” and been out of action for “several weeks” on occasions.
Other complaints have included broken glass panels which “threatened to fall and injure someone”, and “deteriorated” wooden slats.
The footbridge was installed as an “attractive feature in the town” as well as to provide access to Postiguet beach, where the council carried out a number of pedestrian access improvements in January.
These included the installation of ramps and steps to “ensure the beaches are more inclusive and worthy of enjoyment by residents and tourists”, but it appears repeated calls for urgent repairs to the footbridge have gone unheard.
Images 1 and 2: Susana Serrano Secanella Facebook
Image 3: Ayuntamiento de Alicante
Contact Spanish News Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268