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La Manga's troublesome drawbridge puts tunnel plan back in the spotlight
The Estacio bridge has broken down three times this summer, raising fresh concerns about traffic, boats and access to northern La Manga
The latest breakdown of La Manga’s Estacio drawbridge has reignited calls for a permanent alternative, with residents, businesses and boating groups increasingly frustrated by the problems caused by the ageing crossing.
The bridge, which connects the northern and southern parts of La Manga over the channel between the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean, has broken down three times this summer.
The most recent failure came during the busy August holiday period and left boats with more than 7 metres of clearance unable to pass through the channel for around two and a half days. Boats waiting to enter the Mar Menor had to remain anchored nearby, while others were unable to leave.
For people travelling by road, the bridge can also cause lengthy waits. It opens several times a day to allow boats through, with traffic stopped while the bridge is raised. Residents say queues can sometimes last up to 35 minutes, particularly when there’s heavy boat traffic.
There are also concerns about what would happen if a serious breakdown left the northern part of La Manga cut off.
The latest problems have put a proposed tunnel under the Estacio channel firmly back on the agenda.San Javier Council commissioned a preliminary study in 2019 looking at the possibility of replacing the bridge with a submerged tunnel. The project was estimated at around €10.3 million at the time, although the cost is now expected to be closer to €12 million.
The idea has received renewed support from several local groups, with six associations recently signing a letter calling for a tunnel to be built as soon as possible.
There has also been a significant development on the funding front. The regional government has announced €6 million in funding for San Javier to study options for improving infrastructure and mobility in northern La Manga, including technical and environmental studies.
However, a tunnel isn’t guaranteed. Environmental experts have raised concerns about the potential impact of major construction work on the fragile Mar Menor and say detailed geological and environmental studies would be needed before such a project could go ahead.
For now, the Estacio bridge remains the only road crossing between the two sides of the channel but with another summer breakdown already causing disruption, the pressure is growing on authorities to find a more reliable long-term solution.
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