S’Illot Passage Finally Underway: Bridge Renovation After Summer Break

Work on the S’Illot Pedestrian Bridge Has Begun

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What many have endured since July is now being tackled: the more than 50-year-old pedestrian bridge that connects Manacor and Sant Llorenç is being restored. After months during which the bridge was closed to pedestrians, excavators, scaffolding and specialists arrived this week. Those who used the morning route with a stroller are all too familiar with the detours.

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What Exactly Is Being Done

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The teams will replace the steel beams and reinforce the load-bearing structure. In addition, new railings, modern lighting and a corrosion-protection coating are planned. Residents report the characteristic smell of freshly painted metal parts in the early morning and the clinking of tools when the workers start at 7 a.m. The work is expected to take place mostly during the day, from 7:00 to 17:00, with occasional night shifts for technical connections.

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Cost question: The two municipalities estimate the renovation at just under half a million euros. Sant Llorenç and Manacor will share the bill equally. In recent weeks this has sparked discussions in the city council, because other dilapidated infrastructure sites are also on the to-do list.

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Who the Bridge Is Important For

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The crossing is more than just a route over water. Here, pupils, the elderly, people with groceries and even anglers pass in the morning hours. During the summer closure, many residents lost shorter connections, the bus had to adjust several routes, and cyclists detoured onto narrow side streets. Some cafés at the access point have seen less foot traffic since then — as you can tell from the bar on the corner of Carrer del Mar.

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“Safety comes first”, say the technicians. Before the work began, assessors identified acute wear on the steel construction and the railings. The current restoration is intended to sustainably fix these defects and, at the same time, switch lighting to LEDs so the bridge is safely walkable again in the evenings.

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Accessibility and Schedule

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During the construction, the crossing remains closed. Detours are signposted; pedestrians should expect about five to ten minutes of extra travel time — depending on pace and time of day. Officials aim for completion by the end of November, weather permitting and with no unexpected damages emerging.

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For many here, this is a small piece of normality returning. Not glamorous, but important: a safe bridge that can be walked on again when strolling from Manacor to Sant Llorenç or waving to the fishermen at dawn.