Renovation in the Tramuntana: Six roads, five million — is that enough?

Renovation in the Tramuntana: Six roads, five million — is that enough?

From March 2026 six connecting roads between Calvià and Esporles are to receive new asphalt. Good news — with a question mark.

Early in the morning in Esporles, when the bus passes the square from the mountain and the baker pulls the last croissants from the oven, you can see it with the naked eye: cracks, patchwork repairs, places where water has been seeping into the roadway for years. The island council's planned major contract promises relief: six roads will be refurbished in spring 2026, covering a total of around 30 kilometres. The work is expected to take about eight months and the budget is a little over five million euros.

Key question: Does this package cover the really pressing problems in the Tramuntana — or will it leave only a new surface behind which old weaknesses continue to lurk?

The bare facts give cause for hope: places like Esporles, Puigpunyent, Galilea, Es Capdellà and Paguera will benefit directly, and roads that have not been properly renewed for more than 25 years will receive a new wearing course. But construction projects in mountainous terrain are more than paving: drainage, retaining walls, pavement thickness, edge reinforcements and slope protection decide the durability. Without improvements to drainage and slope stabilization, wear will quickly return — especially after rain events, which have become more frequent in recent years.

A bit of arithmetic helps put things into perspective: roughly five million euros for 30 kilometres yields a modest sum per kilometre. That does not automatically mean shoddy work — rather it suggests the measures will be planned selectively and layer by layer. But people driving a van in Galilea or children going to school in Es Capdellà want to know: which sections have priority? Where will ruts, junctions and stops actually be renewed?

Public discussion often only reaches the headline "asphalt will be renewed." What is missing: a transparent prioritization list, a schedule for individual sections, information on traffic routing during construction, and above all the question of long-term maintenance. Previous renewals on the island show that expensive complete refurbishments without a regular maintenance package provoke complaints again within a few years.

Everyday picture: a farmer from Puigpunyent I met on the way to Galilea rolls up his sleeve and points to a spot where water sits under the surface. "They renew the asphalt, but the water remains — then in two years it's the same again," he says. Such voices are important; they tell of actual stresses from heavy machinery, small streams, freeze-thaw cycles and seasonal traffic.

Concrete proposals that go beyond resurfacing are practical and should be discussed immediately: clear prioritization according to hazard (first sections with steep slopes and poor drainage), installation of more robust drainage facilities, targeted reinforcement of the base layer at lay-bys and bus stops, and examination of stabilizing measures on slopes. A maintenance contract for several years after completion would increase the lifespan of the measures and be cheaper than recurring patchwork repairs.

Construction organization can also be improved: phased work outside the peak season reduces congestion on narrow mountain roads, transparent detour plans and a local hotline for residents reduce friction. In addition, a small budget for follow-up inspections by independent civil engineers is worthwhile — it builds trust and protects against premature follow-up costs.

Politics and administration should use the opportunity to see this refurbishment not as a one-off action but as the start of a permanent maintenance plan for the Tramuntana infrastructure. This includes annual inspections, a digitally maintained defect register and the involvement of municipalities, which know the condition of their access roads best.

Conclusion: the planned investment is necessary and can achieve a lot — if it is used intelligently. A new layer on an old foundation may calm things in the short term, but genuine safety and lasting quality only arise when drainage, slope protection and a binding maintenance plan are renewed hand in hand with the surface. Those driving on the MA-10 or the small side roads in the morning won't hear the difference immediately, but they'll feel it in the next winter rain. Then it will become clear whether the Tramuntana has merely been dressed up — or has truly improved.