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A new cycle lane is on the way for Lorca as the City Council has just opened the tender process for a works contract on the old Águilas road. The lane will connect the existing cycling routes at the Casa del Médico path and the Parador de los Seguras, offering a direct and safe alternative for residents heading into the city.

 

The cycle path will be installed by repurposing one of the current parking lanes, with the goal of supporting active transport for those who visit local businesses, gyms or schools along this stretch.

 

The Councillor for Urban Planning and Environment, María Hernández, said the new lane will improve connectivity between the urban area and surrounding districts while expanding Lorca’s bike network by 870 metres.

 

“This incorporation, on the Águilas road, involves relocating the sections affected by the AVE works to other areas of Lorca where their implementation is viable, safe and effective. It increases the total length of bicycle lanes initially contemplated in the project, going from 2,208 metres to 3,078 metres, 870 metres more for the municipality's bicycle network,” she said.

 

“This responds to a real need of thousands of residents who travel to the centre every day. Ultimately, it continues the model of a more sustainable, more connected and more future-ready city that we seek from the Government of Lorca,” the councillor added.

 

The work is scheduled to last two months with a final budget of €179,062. It is being funded through the EU’s Next Generation programme under the grants scheme for the development of low-emission zones and sustainable urban transport.

 

Also, in response to long-standing complaints from local residents and associations in Campillo, additional road repairs will be carried out on parts of the Águilas road at the same time as the bike lane construction.

 

“The City Council will also be carrying out another project to repair the road surface in some areas where the Águilas road is in poor condition. This will address the complaints made by residents and associations of Campillo, which will undoubtedly improve the safety of the road for the cars that use it daily,” Ángel Meca, Councillor for Districts and Infrastructure, explained.

 

The resurfacing will involve removing the top layer of asphalt and replacing it with a new one, covering a distance of one and a half kilometres. The materials alone will cost €38,000.

 

The funding comes from the Region of Murcia’s District Plan, signed last July between Lorca City Council and the regional government. This agreement represents an investment of more than €1.1 million in Lorca.

 

For more local news, events and information, you can go to the home page of Lorca Today

 

Image: Ayuntamiento de Lorca