- The Minister Arcadi España explained that the two new routes under study will start from the City of Arts and Sciences and the Natzaret district and will link up with the current tram network.
- Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat is already working on the drafting of the two projects that will complete the route of Line 10.
The Minister for Territorial Policy, Public Works and Mobility, Arcadi España, said that the Valencian Government is already working on the extension of the future Metrovalencia Line 10 (Alacant-Natzaret) to connect this line, now under construction, with the current tram network in service, by extending the route and creating the new Line 11.
During a visit to the surface works in the area of the City of Arts and Sciences, Arcadi España explained that “to connect Line 10 with the Grau area, a new tramway route will be developed from the City of Arts and Sciences, following Avenida Menorca, until reaching the seafront and integrating this new section with the current tram network at the Grau-Canyamelar stop”.
Likewise, he has stated that “it is also possible that we will extend Line 10 by following the route from Natzaret station to the seafront, with the aim of improving the integration and mobility conditions of the district in the city of Valencia”.
In order to discuss both proposals in detail, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana will meet up with the City Council of Valencia and the Natzaret Neighbourhood Residents’ Association in the coming weeks. Specifically, a work meeting with neighbourhood representatives has been convened for next Monday, which will expose the alternatives that the public company has planned to improve connectivity and mobility conditions for the residents of this district of Valencia.
With this extension, Line 10 will connect the centre of Valencia with the City of Arts and Sciences area, the Natzaret district and the whole seafront, considerably extending the transport service of the Metrovalencia network.
The Minister explained both projects during a visit to the works being carried out on the surface section of Antonio Ferrandis Avenue, next to the future City of Arts and Sciences stop, and which affect a section of one of the vehicle traffic lanes. During the visit he was accompanied by the managing director of FGV, Anaïs Menguzzato.
The aim of this operation is to add a new track to the two existing ones to facilitate possible manoeuvres and streamline the traffic of trams that will provide service throughout the whole line.
Line 10
The works planned for the underground section are currently underway, 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, escalators, lifts, etc. Together with the works in the line’s tunnel, FGV is working on the refurbishment of the track superstructure, architecture and equipment of Metrovalencia’s Line 10 (Alicante-Natzaret), corresponding to the surface section, from the tunnel exit at the Amado Granell ramp to the Natzaret district, with a budget of over six million euros.
The proceedings planned in this project also include the construction in the Natzaret district of the temporary depot for the tram units that will run along this extension of the current Metrovalencia network. Specifically, the extensions of Line 10 proposed to connect this new route to the current tram network are necessary so that this depot can be temporary, as planned, and so that it can cease to be used as soon as possible.
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 and have begun the initial installation works.
The works that are currently being carried out will enable a tramline to be put into service in 2022 that 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.
