More than 32.000 vehicles a day saturate Benitatxell town center

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Poble Nou de Benitatxell is experiencing a critical mobility situation. More than 32.000 vehicles pass through the town center every day, generating traffic pressure incompatible with the municipality's structure and the principles of sustainable urban planning. The City Council urgently calls for the construction of a ring road, the project for which has already been defined and assessed.

Between June 12 and July 13, 2025, traffic cameras recorded a daily average of 15.000 vehicles coming from Xàbia, 9.000 from Moraira, and another 8.000 from Teulada. This traffic intensity far exceeds the capacity of the CV-740 and CV-737 roads, which are located within a consolidated environment with no alternatives to divert traffic from outside the municipality.

The problem, which directly affects mobility, road safety, and residents' quality of life, is particularly concentrated in critical sections such as Padre Plácido Street. With a roadway measuring just 4,5 meters in both directions and sidewalks that are often less than 0,75 meters wide, this road not only hinders simultaneous vehicle traffic but also makes it impassable for pedestrians and people with reduced mobility. Furthermore, it runs just a few meters from the Santa María Magdalena Elementary School, which makes it impossible to consider it a safe school route.

Recently, security cameras captured an incident that could have ended in tragedy: a vehicle crashed into a facade just seconds after a pedestrian crossed at the same spot. "It was chance, not safety conditions, that prevented a fatal outcome," the council stated.

Another alarming aspect is the difficulty in accessing emergency services. The traffic congestion has repeatedly delayed the arrival of ambulances, firefighters, and security forces, jeopardizing the care of people in critical situations.

Furthermore, the heavy traffic flow constantly generates noise, pollution, and congestion, deteriorating the urban environment and undermining the City Council's efforts to move toward a more sustainable mobility model and more livable public spaces.

In recent years, traffic safety and calming measures have been implemented, such as traffic lights, speed bumps, guardrails, and improved signage. However, these measures have proven clearly insufficient given the magnitude of the problem.

For more than two years, the City Council has been working in coordination with the Alicante Provincial Council Roads Department on the design of a ring road to divert traffic away from the city center. The project already has a route and financial assessment, and has been recognized as a technical priority by the Provincial Council.

Mayor Miguel Ángel García emphasized the need for the project to become a reality immediately. "We know that this project is the number one priority throughout the province. We sincerely appreciate the willingness of both the responsible deputy and the Provincial Council's technical team, but a definitive push is needed to move it from a proposal to a tangible reality as quickly as possible," he stated.

García expressed his concern about the recent incidents and sent a clear message: "A provincial road cannot continue to cut through the heart of a municipality with such narrow streets and sidewalks. The severity of the problem has reached too far. Urgent action is needed to prevent irreversible consequences. We cannot afford further delays."

The council trusts that the Alicante Provincial Council will take the final step to implement an infrastructure that is "absolutely necessary for Benitatxell." For the mayor, the situation "cannot be postponed any longer."

Source: La Marina Alta