Marbella Seeks Approval to Address Major Flooding Issue
Marbella has submitted a request for permission to rectify a significant flooding problem in the town. The issue lies with the underpass that connects Nueva Andalucía and Puerto Banús, which frequently floods during rainfall, disrupting both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Mayor and Councillor Visit the Site
Marbella’s mayor, Ángeles Muñoz, and councillor Diego López visited the problematic site on Thursday, 7 November. During their visit, they announced their request to the general directorate of roads, a division of the central government, for approval to rectify the issue. The proposed work is estimated to cost 350,000 euros.
Proposed Solution for the Flooding Issue
Mayor Muñoz explained that the underpass serves as an access point to the A-7, an area over which they have no jurisdiction. Therefore, they sought approval from the ministry of transport and mobility in August to intervene. The proposed project aims to bridge the existing height difference, which currently causes insufficient drainage and water accumulation on the road. The plan includes raising the level by half a metre, improving mobility, eliminating one pavement, and widening the other to 1.5 metres.
Municipal Investment in Sewerage Network
The councillor highlighted the municipal investment made in recent years to upgrade the town’s sewerage network. This work is crucial to prevent severe flooding caused by outdated or, in many cases, non-existent pipes. The ongoing installation of separate rainwater and sewage networks is essential to resolve these issues.
Significant Investment in Problem Areas
“For the past year, the town hall has been working to improve problem areas, with significant investment in areas such as Señora de Gracia, Virgen del Pilar, Fuentenueva and Los Catalanes,” Muñoz said. Over the past decade, a total of 800,000 euros has been allocated annually to the sewerage plan. In the last term of office, 12 million euros were invested in similar projects, and another 10 million in work, in collaboration with Hidralia and Acosol, in communities of owners such as El Rosario, Costabella or Hacienda Las Chapas.
Channeling the Benabolá Stream
The Benabolá stream is also being channelled to prevent flooding of houses during rainfall and to create a large river park of 1.4 kilometres. Corrective measures are being applied, and the entire sewage system is being improved. A new sewage collector has already been placed outside the area to prevent discharges into the stream.
Creation of a Riverside Path
The project also includes the creation of a riverside path to the east of the stream, complete with lighting, a water supply and irrigation network, and street benches. Last week, a wooden bridge measuring 12.5 metres long and 4.4 metres wide was installed. Although designed for pedestrian use, maintenance trucks weighing up to 20 tonnes can pass over it. This work is being carried out along 1,400 metres of the stream and over a total area of 45,000 square metres.
