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La Manga del Mar Menor, the slender strip of land that separates the Mediterranean from Europe's largest saltwater lagoon, is about to get a comprehensive infrastructure overhaul. San Javier council has put out to tender the creation of a Special Infrastructure and Communications Plan that will reshape how this tourism hotspot handles its massive summer population surge.

 

Since its development in the second half of the 20th century, La Manga has transformed from a quiet coastal area into one of the Region of Murcia's premier tourist destinations. The 20-kilometre stretch is split between two municipalities: Cartagena has the southern portion (kilometres 0 to 3.5), while San Javier manages the larger northern section (kilometres 3.5 to 20), which also borders San Pedro del Pinatar.

 

The numbers tell the story of La Manga's incredible growth. During peak summer months, the population can swell to more than 250,000 people, with the majority staying in San Javier's section due to its larger area and extensive development.

 

Luckily, San Javier's current planning regulations already allow for significant expansion. The municipality has approved building capacity for approximately 6.15 million cubic metres of construction across collective housing developments, which translates to roughly 2 million square metres of floor space.

 

This could accommodate nearly 20,000 new homes when accounting for commercial, hotel and recreational facilities.

 

Currently, about 80% of these collective developments have been completed, leaving room for around 400,000 cubic metres of additional construction. The breakdown shows the area's mixed-use future: 71% designated for residential apartments, 28% for hotels and 1% for commercial spaces.

 

This doesn't even include the single-family homes that planning permits still allow but haven't been built yet.

What makes La Manga's infrastructure planning particularly complex is its unusual geography and administrative setup. The resort strip has only one road access point at its southern end through Cartagena, while essential services in the north connect through San Pedro del Pinatar. This creates a logistical puzzle that crosses municipal boundaries.

 

"The peculiar geographic distribution of San Javier, with part of its territory separated from the rest, and La Manga's geometry as a narrow, elongated strip" requires careful coordination between all three municipalities, according to the tender documents.

 

The new special plan must bring together all interested parties and neighbouring councils to create a unified approach to infrastructure development. This collaborative effort will ensure that roads, utilities, communications networks and emergency services can handle both current tourism peaks and future growth.

 

 

Image: Ximonic via Wikimedia Commons