The replacement and protection works for a section of the Maritime Avenue and the ravine mouth in Valle Gran Rey began this Tuesday. The intervention, authorized by the General Directorate of Coasts and Management of the Canary Maritime Space of the Government of the Canary Islands, aims to restore the connection affected by the damage caused by storm Therese and improve safety and mobility in the area.
The mayor of Valle Gran Rey, Borja Barroso, highlighted the cooperation between the General Directorate of Coasts, the La Gomera Island Council (Cabildo), and the City Council itself. "The joint work has allowed us to define a technical solution that combines the recovery of vehicle and pedestrian transit, the improvement of the ravine's drainage, and respect for coastal protection conditions," he stated.
Casimiro Curbelo, president of the La Gomera Island Council, emphasized the coordination between the administrations to recover infrastructure damaged by storm Therese. "In the case of Valle Gran Rey, this cooperation allowed us to advance a priority action to re-establish mobility and reinforce safety at a particularly sensitive point in the municipality," he noted.
The main action includes a split-level crossing at the ravine's mouth. Water will flow under the platform for vehicles and pedestrians through ten drainage openings, ensuring transit continuity even during floods.
The avenue will be set back inland, placing the drainage structure under the road outside the public maritime-terrestrial domain. This adaptation complies with Costas' essential condition to avoid fixed constructions in this public domain and reconcile mobility recovery with coastal protection.
Barroso explained that the solution will allow water to pass under the avenue while maintaining the upper connection for vehicles and people, incorporating improvements to reduce vulnerability to intense rainfall episodes.
Curbelo recalled that the damages from storm Therese on the island were quantified at 42.7 million euros. Resources have been mobilized to accelerate recovery, with nearly 20 million euros in actions awarded across the six municipalities, thanks to institutional cooperation.
The City Council also informs of the temporary closure of the provisional pedestrian crossing. Access to La Calera will be via the El Baluarte track, for both pedestrians and vehicles, to ensure safety during the works. The public's understanding is appreciated, and adherence to signage is requested.
