- The Minister has said that the works have a budget of around 20 million euros and will be put out to tender at the beginning of next year.
- This line, which will link the centre of Valencia with the Natzaret district, will have a direct connection with the current Metrovalencia network.
The Minister of Territorial Policy, Public Works and Mobility, Arcadi España, has announced that in 2021, the Generalitat will put out to tender the works for the underground pedestrian connection between Alacant station, of the future Line 10 of Metrovalencia, and Xàtiva station.
Arcadi España has made this announcement after visiting the works of the underground section of this line, currently under construction, which will connect the city centre of Valencia with the Natzaret district.
Once the construction project of this proceeding is completed, with a budget of about 20 million euros, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV) will be ready to start the bidding process for these works early next year.
The Minister explained that “this pedestrian tunnel will connect Line 10 with the current Metrovalencia network and improve mobility conditions for future users and for the city of Valencia and its metropolitan area as a whole”.
The underground pedestrian tunnel that will connect the stations of Alacant and Xàtiva will allow a quick and easy connection for passengers to transfer between lines. The length of this new planned infrastructure is about 260 meters. This pedestrian tunnel will connect the lobbies of both stations and will have stairs and escalators, as well as a lift accessible to persons with reduced mobility (PRM).
Arcadi España emphasised that “all the actions planned to bring this line into service are either underway or completed, with the aim of making this extension of the Metrovalencia network a reality by 2022”.
Once completed, Line 10 will connect the centre of Valencia with the City of Arts and Sciences area and the Nazaret district, considerably extending the transport service of the Metrovalencia network. This line combines underground and surface sections, covering a distance of 5.3 kilometres and with 8 stations and stops (3 underground and 5 above-ground).
The construction project of this line as a whole is co-financed by the European Union, through the operational programme of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the Valencian Community 2014-2020.
Progress of the construction work
The planned works are currently underway along the underground section, with a budget of more than 25 million euros. The works include the installation of the entire double track and switches and crossings; drainage and side channels for installations; and the architectural work of the three stations, which includes finishes, flooring, vertical cladding, furniture, etc.
Last November, FGV started the refurbishment of the track superstructure, architecture and equipment of the surface section, from the exit of the tunnel at the Amado Granell ramp to the Natzaret district, including the construction in the Natzaret district of the temporary depot for the tram units that will run along this extension of the Metrovalencia network.
In terms of works that have already been carried out, last February the construction of the ramp connecting the underground and surface sections at the level of Amado Granell Avenue was completed. The works have included the construction of the surface stop at Hermanos Maristas, for more than 3.8 million euros.
The rest of the contracts, such as that of electrification, installation of substations and connections of the route between Alacant station and Natzaret, and the contract for signposting, communication and safety have already been awarded, are being planned and are awaiting the start of installation works.
