Construction of Four Bridges Planned in Riba-roja and Vilamarxant to Link River Banks by The Generalitat

News Article: Restoration and Regeneration of Túria Natural Park

The Túria Natural Park is set for a significant transformation, with various associations, including environmental groups, local government bodies, and community organizations, collaborating on its restoration and the planning of a future network of floodable parks.

The primary objective of this project is to connect the two banks of the river, ensuring passage for emergency teams in case of floods or forest fires. Additionally, the new bridges, which will also serve as passageways for pedestrians and bicycles, aim to facilitate traffic for local residents who previously used the old bridges for labor purposes.

The Association has requested modifications to the National Hydrological Plan to allow the Turia to have a one-cubic-meter channel, ensuring threatened species can complete their life cycle. To achieve this, the construction of four bridges in Valencian towns Riba-roja de Túria and Vilamarxant is part of the third phase of the action plan for the recovery of the Natural Park of Túria.

The estimated cost of these repairs and improvements is 2.15 million euros. The Association has also urged the proliferation of invasive cane to be addressed, suggesting the use of geotextile mesh and native species for reforestation to prevent the spread of flames in case of a forest fire.

Environmental adaptation actions will be carried out to respect and enhance the ecological values of the river environment. The Minister of Environment, Infrastructure and Territory, Vicente Martínez Mus, has announced these plans, emphasizing that the future network of floodable parks aims to complement necessary structural actions of channeling.

The Association of Municipalities Linked to the Natural Park of Túria has been involved in these efforts, highlighting emergencies and the elimination of the cane as priority actions. They have also requested to be part of the actions for the regeneration of the park.

The City Council of Vilamarxant is focusing on expanding the number of speed bumps to connect municipalities. The planned actions include the removal of damaged infrastructures, repair and consolidation of paths, restoration of margins and slopes, and improvement of drainage.

The expansion of the pedestrian route could increase up to 70 kilometers by connecting the future metropolitan forest with the towns of the Natural Park of Túria. The new bridges will not only enhance the park's restoration but also guarantee quick and effective passage of emergency vehicles of firefighters in case of natural catastrophes, such as a possible fire.

In a first phase, four of the six planned passages will be executed, with two in Riba-roja de Túria and two in Vilamarxant. A working meeting with the Confederación Hidrográfica del Júcar (CHJ) has been agreed upon to coordinate actions for the regeneration of the natural space.

The Association has again called for a global and coordinated project, requesting the creation of a commission of different administrations to study and propose the best integrated reconstruction project for the Natural Park. This collaborative approach reflects the collective commitment to ensuring the safety, quality of life, and well-being of all municipalities in the metropolitan area of Valencia.

Construction of Four Bridges Planned in Riba-roja and Vilamarxant to Link River Banks by The Generalitat