Brand-new bridge in Torre Pacheco hits trouble days after opening
Drivers are being warned to slow down after a section of road near the IFEPA roundabout began to sink
Residents in Torre Pacheco are already voicing frustration after the town’s long-awaited new AVE bridge developed problems less than two weeks after opening to traffic.
Local police confirmed that a “small subsidence” in the road surface has appeared on the descent of the new bridge near the IFEPA roundabout on the RM-F51 road connecting Torre Pacheco and Pozo Estrecho.
Although the area has been temporarily signposted, drivers are being urged to exercise “extreme caution”, particularly at night, while repairs are organised.
The bridge only opened at the end of April as part of the Murcia-Cartagena high-speed rail project and was supposed to restore an important transport link affected by ongoing rail construction works.
Instead, the issue has quickly sparked anger and disbelief among residents, many of whom say they waited years for the project to finally move forward.
Locals commenting online have accused the authorities of rushing the work once approval was finally given, arguing that the speed of construction may now be backfiring.
The new bridge replaced a level crossing removed to make way for the future AVE line and forms part of a new 850-metre stretch of road south of Torre Pacheco. The structure crosses both the existing railway and the future high-speed line via an overpass.
The bridge was presented as a major improvement for the area, featuring two traffic lanes, pedestrian access and improved connectivity between the eastern and western sides of the municipality.
Now, however, attention has shifted from celebration to criticism, with many residents questioning how a brand-new piece of infrastructure could already be showing signs of damage.
So far, the authorities have described the issue as minor, and the incident has already been reported for repair. Traffic continues to circulate through the area, albeit with warning signs and reduced speed recommendations in place.
Images: Policia Local
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