Valdepeñas continues to advance in the materialization of its river park, a project initiated by the City Council of the town in collaboration with the Guadiana Hydrographic Confederation (CHG). An initiative that aims to continue the Storm Plan of the municipality from the El Hierro Bridge to the ring road and from the ring road to the mouth of the Veguilla in the Jabalón River.
«I believe that this mega-project is, without a doubt, the most ambitious that this administration has developed to mitigate storm risks,» emphasized Valdepeñas Mayor Jesús Martín on Wednesday. He explained that the initiative consists of «opening an open channel between 50-60 meters wide, on two terraces, a first one that deepens the terrain, a second one that goes even lower, and a third one that channels the stream.»
The river park will have a length of about 2.5 kilometers, and for its execution, the expropriation of 41,000 square meters belonging to 50 estates of 38 owners has been necessary, as well as temporary occupation while the works of 75,000 square meters of 20 estates are materialized.
Jesús Martín emphasized that «the project is estimated at 25,000,000 euros and is the largest undertaking that this administration has carried out to avoid storm risks. Once that channel is opened, in order to prevent it from deteriorating over time into a current, it includes a series of sports facilities such as a bike lane and sports that do not require elements that could become obstacles when they reach the water. The sports facilities would be the responsibility of the City Council, while the channeling and urbanization would be done by the Guadiana Hydrographic Confederation.»
In this sense, it was specified that the funding would be 60% by the CHG and 40% by the Valdepeñas City Council to progressively carry out, from the municipal budget, the facilities of the river park. However, it was mentioned that the Guadiana Hydrographic Confederation expects to obtain funding from European funds to carry out this project, something that would be revealed within two months, with a deadline for the works of five years.
Avoiding floods
The mayor recalled that this project would close the Municipal Storm Plan, which has been developed over the past years with a significant investment to prevent a flood of water volume like the one that occurred in the tragic flood of 1979.
Regarding the actions carried out, the Storm Plan in the northern area is currently 50% completed, pending the completion of the underground collector on Ciudad Real Street, which would extend from the Avenida de los Estudiantes to the Avenida del Vino, at the height of Cersyra. The urbanization and widening in certain sections of the Veguilla Canal has also been undertaken, which will continue with its urbanization up to Plaza de Mayo, for which the City Council has already submitted a project to obtain European funds.
Finally, the procedures are also advanced to begin the works to expand the eye of the El Hierro Bridge, which will be carried out by the Ministry of Public Works. An essential action to prevent the water from the Veguilla channel from returning and flowing into the future River Park.