Peguera between construction dust and hope: Can the boulevard really be finished by April?

Peguera between construction dust and hope: Can the boulevard really be finished by April?

First phase has been underway since early November — but questions remain

Since early November the central boulevard of Peguera has been a major construction site. Construction vehicles, barriers and loose paving stood last Saturday next to closed cafés; the smell of fresh concrete mixed with the aroma of fried tapas coming from the open door of a small restaurant. The municipal administration has announced that the first construction phase should be completed by April. That sounds good — but also ambitious.

Key question: Is the schedule realistic, and who bears the burden if it fails? The answer has several layers: technical, economic and social. Technically, the scope is clear: 350 meters of surface will be relaid, the roadway planned as a level surface with a 3.90-meter-wide lane, sidewalks between 4.20 and 2.90 meters wide, plus a 1.20-meter-wide permeable strip for planting. Nine-meter-deep sewer shafts must be lined and sealed from the inside — a complex task that consumes time.

Construction costs for this phase are estimated at around three million euros; two million of that comes from the Next Generation funds. So far, so transparent. What is often missing in the discussion are concrete details about diversion plans, permitted working hours for noisy activities, support for businesses along the street and the data usage policies for the announced license-plate cameras.

On the ground people report everyday worries: one pensioner commented on the plaza that the pedestrian routing was confusing, delivery vans were parked in no-parking zones, and regulars of the small bars asked how they would be visible again in spring. These voices are not complaints out of convenience but indications of practical gaps in the planning.

Another point: trees are to be planted with root barriers so they do not lift the paving. The intention is good. In reality the soil decides: how much moisture will the young trees actually get? Will the planting pits be large enough so roots are not forced to the surface? Small mistakes here lead to costly corrections later.

The planned technical equipment — advertising boards and license-plate cameras — falls under a project to develop an "intelligent tourism city." That raises questions: who manages the data? How long will license plates be stored? What transparency and control options will residents have? Such details belong in communication with citizens, otherwise mistrust grows.

From a traffic point of view the aim to calm car traffic and reduce speed is understandable. A single 3.90-meter-wide lane for both directions, however, leaves little margin for delivery traffic, emergency vehicles or bicycles. Clear rules and room for exceptions are needed here — including visible stopping zones.

What is often missing in public debate is a plan to work with the realities of tourism and business life: clear time windows for noisy work, alternative routes for pedestrians with barrier-free crossings, visible signage for visitors and communicated support measures for affected businesses (information signs, temporary outdoor areas, online promotion by the municipality).

Concrete solution proposals: 1) daily work stages with fixed end times so evenings remain available to hospitality businesses; 2) temporary, weatherproof walkways along the construction site; 3) a publicly viewable progress board online (photos, measurements, schedule); 4) a small compensation or promotional package for heavily affected business owners; 5) independent environmental monitoring for dust and tree protection.

Another practical piece of advice: putting the second phase out to tender in April makes sense. Far more important, however, is to already establish binding coordination rules between phases now so that connections do not become bottlenecks later. Otherwise in two years you may have four half-finished sections instead of one completed promenade.

Renewing the entire 1.3-kilometer boulevard would be a gain for Peguera — in the long term. To prevent this from failing because of poor organization, more communication and forward-looking detailed planning are needed now. Not just a promise on paper, but clear, visible measures for the people who live and work there.

Conclusion: The project can succeed. The schedule until April is ambitious but achievable if the administration and the construction company work closely with residents, business owners and emergency services. Without this cooperation there is a risk of conflict and additional costs. Peguera does not need a construction-site show, but a construction site that is quiet at night, does not threaten the existence of small businesses by day and later delivers a boulevard promenade to be truly proud of.