The Plaza Mayor of Albox will have commercial and social use. During the week in the mornings it will open to vehicles on one side, and in the afternoons and weekends it will be closed for the exclusive use of pedestrians. The objective, in the words of the mayor, is that “we give security to the neighbors in the event of any emergency and guarantee accessibility to such important points as the health center, schools or districts. Access to the area for emergency vehicles and, in parallel, decongesting the streets surrounding the square, our old town, which today supports eighty percent of the town’s traffic,» explained María del Mar Alfonso, before the attentive gaze of the neighbors who this Thursday attended the information meeting on the ‘Access Project to the Plaza Mayor and improvement of the environment’.
Opening the square to traffic and thereby improving circulation and security in the municipality was one of the electoral promises of this government team. “It was a commitment that we made with the people of Albojens and we are going to fulfill it, but above all we are going to do it, because we believe that it is the best for our people. It is done in all cities; combine both uses, respecting the aesthetics of the square and improving the entire environment,” adds Alfonso.
The works, which are expected to begin after the summer, will involve the opening of a five-meter-wide lane on one side of the square, only noticeable by the shape of the pavement, which will be made of the same material, yellow travertine, but installed to be able to withstand the Road Traffic. Automatic pivots, on both sides of the lane, will open and close automatically according to the stipulated schedule to open and close the plaza to vehicles.
The modification includes the renewal of street furniture, the change of the playground for an approved and larger one, new lighting and sewage and stormwater improvements. “We will respect the aesthetics of our Plaza Mayor, we will provide it with new furniture that can be moved on important occasions such as the descent of the Virgin. And above all, it will be a square that respects pedestrians, with spaces for disabled people, ramps, a place for enjoyment and that, at the same time, is a respite for commerce, traffic and the safety of all,» the mayor concluded in her presentation.
The project is in the bidding phase and will be financed with Provincial Plans of the Provincial Council of Almería. “When we arrived we held a meeting with architects, merchants and associations and several alternatives were proposed to the problem that arose with the closure of the plaza. This is the option that allows us to continue guaranteeing the financial balance of our accounts with the help of the Provincial Council and a short-term solution in a very important place for the town.”