La Manga locals call for tunnel to replace failing Estacio Bridge
The drawbridge, which connects La Manga north and south, frequently breaks down during the summer
For many locals in San Javier, the scenic Estacio Bridge is more of a daily disruption than a picturesque landmark. While it may look impressive to outsiders, residents living in La Manga del Mar Menor have long faced the frustrating consequences of its frequent breakdowns and routine closures.
The drawbridge is raised every couple of hours to allow boats to pass, cutting off road access for residents. Even worse, the lifting mechanism is notoriously unreliable, often breaking down, sometimes for hours. During summer, when traffic surges and the risk of emergencies increases, the situation becomes especially concerning.
“At those times, if there is an accident, a fire… you're trapped. The problem with the bridge is severe in the summer. A few years ago, there was a summer when it broke down up to three times,” explained Luis Chorques, president of the La Manga Veneziola Neighbourhood Association.
In a recent meeting with the San Javier Town Council, the neighbourhood association formally proposed replacing the bridge with an underground tunnel. They argue that this would solve the long-standing issue of delayed response times in emergencies and ease traffic bottlenecks, especially during peak tourist season.
"This bridge represents a serious disruption for the entire neighbourhood, and the disruption is exacerbated in the summer, with waits of up to 30 minutes. Furthermore, in the event of a fire or other catastrophe that coincides with one of the bridge's failures, the problem could be downright serious and cost lives," the spokesperson stressed.
"The Town Council tells us it's putting pressure on us and is giving us the impression that it could be a reality. They no longer tell us it can't happen, as they used to," he added.
This isn't the first time such a proposal has been floated. Back in 2023, another group of residents from La Manga Norte wrote to the council, demanding the same solution. In their letter, they cited the area’s population growth and the increasing risk posed by relying on a single, unreliable crossing.
Residents are also calling attention to another long-standing issue: the lack of a footpath between the Peter School and the local football field at kilometre 14 of La Manga. The area currently has only a bike lane, forcing pedestrians to walk alongside bikes and scooters - a setup that’s already caused accidents.
But there is also some good news on this front, as the footpath project has been put out to tender and locals are hopeful that work will begin soon. They’ve even requested that the construction start immediately, even if it needs to pause during the busy summer months.
Image: Agustin Alfaro (La Manga Norte Facebook group)
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