Ma-1 bei Andratx: Nachts sanieren, tagsüber Ruhe – aber zu welchem Preis?

Renovation of the Ma-1: necessary, timely — and yet controversial

The Ma-1, this narrow coastal artery that in the morning carries commuters, vans and holidaymakers along Paguera's beaches and in the evening leads into the harbour of Port d'Andratx, is getting a new surface. The island council has released 2.8 million euros, according to Nighttime Renovation of the Ma-1 at Andratx: Curse or Blessing for Residents?, and the works are due to start in autumn and take about six months, as reported in From October, the Ma-1 between Paguera and Puerto de Andratx will be renewed at night. On paper this sounds like a sensible investment in safety and driving comfort. But the decision to work exclusively at night — from 23:00 to 05:00 — raises questions that have so far been too little discussed in the public debate.

The key question

Is nighttime work really the best solution — for the people who live there, for traffic safety and for the environment? When the engines fall silent and Paguera's lights spill into the bay, the excavators and rollers begin their shift. For drivers this means free traffic during the day; for residents, potentially six months of night noise, lights and construction traffic.

What is often overlooked

At first glance you avoid congestion and tourist hassle: ideal for daytime peak times. But Mallorca's nights are not empty — delivery traffic, taxis, restaurants in Port d'Andratx, even some hotels need night access. Then there are the people who live on the coast: the relentless racket when asphalt is laid and worked by heavy machines causes sleep loss and irritability. And then there's health: fine dust and the smell of fresh bitumen reach windows and balconies, which are often only closed by cool night air.

Worker and traffic safety: a second look

Working at night carries risks that sometimes receive too little attention when decisions are made. Visibility conditions, glare from lights, and the interaction of construction vehicles with regular night traffic — ambulances, police, delivery vehicles — require strict controls. Will additional lookout points, speed limits and clear traffic routing be sufficiently planned? Experience shows: good safeguards cost extra time and money, but are indispensable.

Ecology and noise: mostly underestimated consequences

The Ma-1 runs close to sensitive coastal zones. Night work means not only acoustic stress for people but also light and emission impacts for animals. Migratory birds, bats and the quiet of the coastal vegetation react sensitively to continuous floodlights and increased emissions. Such effects are harder to measure than daytime traffic jams — but just as real.

Concrete proposals instead of loud criticism

Those who criticise should also offer solutions. Here are some pragmatic measures that could improve the project:

1. Strict monitoring and transparent data: Set up an online contact point with real-time noise, dust and progress data. Whoever stands in their kitchen in Paguera and hears the excavator at night should be able to see how long the work will continue.

2. Noise protection and work tactics: Use quieter machines, temporary soundproofing walls at sensitive spots and limit particularly loud activities to short time windows.

3. Better coordination with night traffic: Coordinate with taxi companies, bus operators and port authorities so that emergency and delivery routes remain clear. A clear communication plan for affected residents and businesses is mandatory.

4. Environmental requirements: Reduce open bitumen processing during sensitive animal migration phases; use directed lighting instead of floodlights to minimise light pollution.

5. Social compensation: Check whether particularly affected households can receive simple soundproofing measures or compensation — earplugs are not a solution for six months.

Looking ahead: seize the opportunities

The renovation is a necessary investment — that is beyond question. The decision for night work is understandable from a traffic point of view. But it must not become a transfer of problems from commuters to residents. With clear conditions, daily information practices and verifiable noise limits, the measure can be made more socially acceptable and ecologically responsible. When the rollers are gone next summer, the Ma-1 should not only leave a smoother road surface but also the feeling that interests on the island were handled sensitively and transparently.

Until then: listen closely, insulate windows — and hold the authorities to their word when they talk about "minimal impacts." Because on Mallorca's nights you hear many things clearly: the sound of the sea, the rustle of the palm trees and perhaps in the future the regular hammering of a construction site. Whether that's a good trade-off will be decided in the coming months.