The Council of Mallorca has announced a series of projects to improve the island's road network. These include work on the Soller Road roundabout by the Son Castelló ITV (MOT) station in Palma.
When first presented in April this year, the Council's president, Llorenç Galmés, said this was "a long-awaited and highly-requested project". "Our aim is to eliminate one of the most problematic areas for years in terms of traffic jams and bottlenecks on our daily network."
In setting out these projects on Tuesday, it was explained that this particular project will cost an estimated €4.7 million, one million more than when it was originally presented in April. Work is expected to start before the end of this year. Another is for the complete restructuring of connections between Coll d'en Rabassa and the FAN shopping centre.
Away from Palma, schemes include Son Veri to the Llucmajor motorway, work on which is already under way, the Bunyola-Orient-Alaro road, and Crestatx to Sa Pobla. Galmés said on Tuesday that there will be two projects next year in the Tramuntana - Coll de Soller and Sa Calobra.
The cost of various projects highlighted on Tuesday is some 27 million euros, though this is far from being the total investment. The project for the Son Castelló roundabout is within the framework of the Palma Access Plan, which has a total budget of 164 million euros and involves thirteen projects, seven of which have been undertaken. According to the president, "people tell us that the road management is already noticeable and that they are benefiting from the improvements we have made".
There is more to come, Galmés saying: "In the next two years, we will focus on improving access to the Andratx motorway and the Inca motorway with two major projects that will be launched in the coming months."