Port accessThe new bridge is the result of the collaboration agreement between the Port Authority and Santurtzi Town Council, and will be followed shortly by the urban redevelopment of the fishing harbour area, work on which has already begun
The people of Santurtzi now have a new footbridge over the railway tracks, connecting Avenida Murrieta and Paseo Reina Victoria Eugenia. The bridge was constructed and funded by the Port Authority of Bilbao under the collaboration agreement with the Santurtzi Town Council to promote and develop port-city interaction.
The event to mark the opening of the bridge this morning was attended by Ricardo Barkala, President of the Port Authority, and Karmele Tubilla, Mayoress of Santurtzi, who congratulated each other on providing the town with a new footbridge that contributes to improving the quality of life of the people of Santurtzi.
The works took seven and a half months to complete, with a total investment of EUR 1.85 million.
Accessibility and security
The new Corten steel footbridge, built on the same site as the previous one, starts at Avenida Murrieta, 12.8 m above sea level, and reaches Paseo de la Reina Victoria Eugenia at 11.96 m above sea level, with a 1.5% downhill gradient. The footbridge crosses over c/ Parque de Santurtzi and over four railway tracks coming out from Santurtzi train station. At 2.5 m wide and equipped with two lifts, the bridge complies with all applicable regulations on accessibility, enabling two wheelchairs to cross on the bridge from opposite directions without difficulty.
Safety has also been improved by providing lighting in the different crossing areas and on the footbridge itself, which is also equipped with surveillance cameras. In addition, a rest area has been included with views of the Abra.
During the opening ceremony, the Mayoress of Santurtzi, Karmele Tubilla, pointed out that “this new footbridge, which is used every day by the people of Santurtzi, will now be safer and easier to use, which is what people need. We will now have a safe and inclusive footbridge”.
For his part, the President of the Port Authority, Ricardo Barkala, explained the project and highlighted the fact that the bridge “has been designed in conjunction with the Town Council, which is how things should be done. We are delighted to see the result and to be able to contribute in this way to improving the quality of life of the local people”.
Start of the urban redevelopment of the fishing harbour area
As part of the previously mentioned collaboration agreement, another of the projects on which Santurtzi Town Council and the Port Authority have been working is the redevelopment of a 1.3 hectare area of the town’s fishing harbour, which will provide the people of Santurtzi with a new leisure, meeting and recreational area.
In this respect, it is worth remembering that in 2021, Santurtzi Town Council undertook a process of consultation with the different cultural associations of the town, through which various contributions were made and ideas put forward on the future potential use of an area of land made available through the demolition of the two disused warehouses. As a result, the plan is for this new space to be set up with games, a wall for ball games, a small climbing wall, a water area with jets, various rest areas and a cycle path.
“This redevelopment is part of the regeneration plan for the coastal area that will affect our town in the coming years. The improvement works set to begin and transform Paseo Lehendakari Aguirre, the future Arts centre and the opening of this bridge today with the Port Authority, will bring Santurtzi back to its origins and provide it with a wide open space next to the sea. A space that will be used in different ways and enjoyed by everyone”, the mayoress explained.
The new space will be divided into four parts: the areas in front of the Sotera and Elektro buildings, the access road to the Port Authority of Bilbao, the parking area and the fishermen’s warehouses. The budget for these works is over EUR 3.37 million and, like the construction of the new bridge, is scheduled to take 7 and a half months to complete.
Collaboration agreement
The last agreement, signed in May 2022, runs for four years, and is designed, above all, for better access to the town, as well as to improve the conditions of roads, public spaces and the urban-port environment for leisure, public and recreational use by residents, with walkways, roads, cycle paths, footbridges and lifts.
During the press conference, the Mayoress of Santurtzi thanked “the joint efforts of the Port Authority and the Town Council, which are gradually translating into both finished items and future projects, such as the one being opened here today, which will improve the quality of life of the people of this town”.
