After 50 years, work finally begins to dismantle Puerto Mayor in La Manga

The €23.6 million project will remove more than 2,500 metres of steel structures and restore almost 98 hectares of coastline at the Caleta del Estacio

After decades of arguments, court cases and an unfinished port project sitting on the Mediterranean side of La Manga, Puerto Mayor is finally on its way out. The Ministry for Ecological Transition has started the first preparatory work at the Caleta del Estacio in San Javier, ahead of the full dismantling of the abandoned structure. The project is expected to take around 18 months, with the main work due to be completed in 2028, provided there are no major delays.

The €23.6 million contract was awarded to Acciona Construcción earlier this year. The work will remove more than 2,500 metres of steel sheet piling, clear thousands of tonnes of artificial fill and reshape parts of the coastline. But it isn't just a case of taking away the old metalwork. The plan covers almost 98 hectares of land and sea around the Caleta del Estacio, returning much of the area to a more natural coastal landscape.

Initial work has included surveys of marine and land wildlife, marking protected areas, water quality testing and checks on the Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa seagrass meadows. Invasive plants, including acacia, are also being removed.

Once the dismantling begins, more than 98,000 cubic metres of fill behind the steel structures will be removed, along with more than 44,000 cubic metres of soil containing heavy metals. The final 200 metres of the southern breakwater will also disappear, while other sections will be reinforced. The abandoned boats inside the Levante breakwater will be removed too.

The restoration will then turn its attention to the beach and dunes. Native plants will be introduced, sand will be encouraged to build up naturally and wooden walkways will provide access across parts of the restored area. Fencing will help protect the new dune system from being damaged.

There will also be an experimental 25-square-metre Posidonia planting project beneath the water.
Puerto Mayor has a long history, with the original concession dating back to 1975. Plans were approved for a marina on this stretch of La Manga. The project grew considerably over the years, at one stage including plans for 2,155 homes, a hotel, commercial space and even a helipad.

The works eventually stopped in 2005, leaving the unfinished steel structure behind. After years of legal battles, the concession expired in 2020 and the land returned to the State in 2021. Now, the old port is finally being restored to the original Mediterranean coastline.

Images: Archive