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Date Published: 15/03/2023

ARCHIVED - Murcia Old Bridge to be closed off to private traffic this April

ARCHIVED ARTICLE -

The Murcia landmark has been classed as an Asset of Cultural Interest

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Murcia Old Bridge to be closed off to private traffic this April

The Old Bridge in Murcia, which is currently the main access route from the city centre to the El Carmen district, will be cut off to vehicles from April, once the spring festival has finished. After being declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, the bridge will soon be open only to pedestrians, bicycles and buses.

At the moment, this thoroughfare has a bus lane as well as a route for private traffic and a footpath for walkers on each side, and its closure has sparked outrage amongst local residents. However, the historic landmark has been deemed protected by the regional Ministry of Culture and the move is part of a broader plan to semi-pedestrianise the El Carmen neighbourhood.

Come April, the driving lane on the Old Bridge will be completely removed and replaced with a two-way bike lane. The existing bus lane for public transport will remain, since the route services the Floridablanca garden.

Of course, the closure of the bridge creates a problem for traffic needing to cross the river, so the city council plans to alter the traffic flow at the Miguel Caballero footbridge, allowing cars to travel in to the Carmelite neighbourhood instead of out.

The project has already been assigned to a contractor and according to the Ministry, "everything related to the mobility plan of the Murcia City Council has the go-ahead."

Major changes are also planned in the streets surrounding the Old Bridge: Camachos square will be entirely pedestrianised while in Martínez Tornel, the footpaths will be widened and, since traffic towards the bridge will be eliminated, an island channelling the flow of vehicles will be incorporated.

The new bus and bike lanes will also continue well into Camachos square, on the other side of the bridge.

Over on Avenida Teniente Flomesta, the current two-lane road will remain but a bus and bike lane will be added.

In other news: Brits in Spain can drive again: driving licence exchange deal approved

Image: Ayuntamiento de Murcia

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