New cycle lane to improve Lorca city centre transport links
Work begins on a 450-metre route through the Los Ángeles neighbourhood with a budget of €37,000
A new bicycle lane is now under construction on Avenida de las Fuerzas Armadas in Lorca as part of the city’s ongoing efforts to encourage greener and more sustainable ways of getting around.The works, which got underway on Tuesday May 6, are being led by the Department of Urban Planning and Environment and will last around a month. According to the City Council, the new cycle path will run for 450 metres and cost just under €37,000. It will sit beside the University Road in the Los Ángeles neighbourhood and aims to connect the Lorca University Campus with the wider city.
As part of the project, one of the three existing lanes for cars is being removed. This will leave one lane in each direction for vehicles. However, local officials have stressed that the roadworks should not cause major disruption to traffic in the area while the work is underway.
The bike lane is designed to be bidirectional, with a minimum width of 2.4 metres. There will also be a 40-centimetre safety buffer between cyclists and vehicles, and an 870-centimetre buffer zone separating the bike path from parked cars. The surface will be finished with a bituminous treatment to provide grip and prevent slipping. Safety dividers and bollards will mark out the cycle route, and both horizontal and vertical signs will be installed.
The initiative is part of a wider sustainable transport strategy that the council says will help cut emissions and make everyday travel safer and more accessible. The funds come from the European Union’s Next Generation package, specifically aimed at helping municipalities create low-emission zones and improve their urban mobility systems.
“This kind of infrastructure encourages people to use their bikes more often,” said María Hernández, Councillor for Urban Planning and the Environment. “We want sustainable transport to become a daily habit, something that improves our health and helps us build a better city.”
She added that this latest lane fits into a broader vision for Lorca’s future. “We understand these changes as part of our 2032 framework commitment,” she said. “They are designed to make Lorca a more environmentally friendly place to live, where active transport becomes the norm.”
The new lane is just one of several mobility improvements taking shape in Lorca. Other projects include the transformation of Avenida Rafael Méndez into a cycle-friendly road, traffic calming measures in the historic centre, and a new park-and-ride facility on Calle Periodista Ángela Ruiz. All are aimed at reducing congestion and pollution, while giving people more options to move around the city without a car.
Image: Ayuntamiento de Lorca
