€10.07 million project will pedestrianise over 1.1 km of coastline, add shade, green areas and better access; contract term 18 months
Torrevieja’s Local Government Board has approved the tender documents for the comprehensive reurbanisation of Playa de Los Locos, a flagship waterfront upgrade that aims to reconnect the city with the sea and make the promenade safer, greener and fully accessible. The base tender budget is €10,067,284.73 (VAT included). Bidders will have 35 calendar days to submit offers, and the execution period for the works is set at 18 months.
The project has been drafted by Valencian architect Juan Ignacio Fuster Marcos and incorporates the requirements and sectoral reports issued by the Valencian regional departments for Environment, Infrastructure and Territory, as well as Spain’s Provincial Coastal Service under the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge. The design adapts to regulatory constraints along the maritime public domain while delivering a modern, people-first promenade.
Scope-wise, the works will pedestrianise and connect the existing Punta Margalla walkway from the junction of Avenida de la Purísima and Calle La Sal through to Avenida Roentgen. In practical terms, that means more than 1,100 metres of car-free coastline and a total intervention area of 21,044.75 m². The scheme emphasises barrier-free access to the beach, new shaded seating, continuous routes for walking and leisure, and an upgraded interface between hospitality terraces and public space.
A key idea behind the revamp is to give the seafront the width and legibility it needs to function as a true urban living room without losing its coastal character. To that end, the promenade is configured on two levels within the official shoreline boundary. The upper level—aligned with today’s building entrances—will be a broad, stone-paved pedestrian spine where people can stroll, sit and socialise. It will also accommodate restricted vehicle access for garages and essential municipal and emergency services, ensuring operations without compromising pedestrian priority.
The second level is conceived as a lighter, wood-look path that weaves gently between the upper promenade and the sand. This sinuous walkway rises and falls to stitch the levels together, carving through terraced planters planted with a diverse palette of Mediterranean species. Between the two strata, landscaped embankments create micro-rooms with benches and shade, while toward the upper edge larger trees provide canopy cover and comfortable places to linger on hot days.
Across the beach edge, the plan introduces small, removable decks in synthetic wood or equivalent materials that extend toward the sea without fixing permanent structures in the sand. Family-friendly infrastructure is a clear priority: three children’s play areas are foreseen, together with two prefabricated public toilet blocks and a seasonal first-aid post, all designed to be removable to respect coastal regulations.
The proposal balances a ‘more natural’ look with a distinctly urban functionality. Terraces for cafés and restaurants will be integrated under a coherent, unified image, with clear boundaries so private activity and public enjoyment reinforce rather than conflict with each other. Wayfinding, seating, lighting and street furniture will be coordinated to deliver a consistent identity along the entire route.
When finished, Los Locos will not only be easier to reach for people of all ages and abilities, it will also feel greener, shadier and more comfortable throughout the year. By expanding pedestrian space and softening the transition from city to sea, the project is intended to strengthen Torrevieja’s coastal identity and support local businesses that depend on an attractive, high-quality promenade. The tender now moves forward, and once awarded, the contractor will have a year and a half to turn the design into reality.
