The Return Of The 'Rusty' Railings - Paseo Dique de Levante

[Carl]

https://www.informacion.es/vega-baja/20 ... 14892.html

Google translate, minus video and images:

The mystery of rusting stainless steel: this is the state of the railings on the Levante dike promenade in Torrevieja six months after its reopening, while the City Council investigates the causes.

The material located along 1,300 linear meters of the public space was already partially replaced during the works due to similar corrosion problems that have reappeared in the new batch.

The dazzling hue of the stainless steel railings and handrails installed along 1,300 linear meters of the cantilevered promenade renovation project on the Levante breakwater in the port of Torrevieja has been rapidly fading since the public space reopened to pedestrians last Easter. In these six months, the material has become covered in what appear to be rust stains, affecting mainly the joints and welds, but also the rest of the structure.

And what's even more striking: it's happening for the second time in a year. The City Council, which promoted the renovation of the promenade that cost more than six million euros, was already forced to halt the work — which resulted in an eight-month delay due to this and other issues — in order to remove part of the railings after they had already been installed because they presented a very similar problem.

At the time, a materials analysis determined that the batch used met the highest quality and alloy specifications required by the tender documents — AISI 316 stainless steel, a material specifically used in marine environments due to its superior resistance to chloride-induced corrosion. However, it had been contaminated by bacteria during transport and plastic packaging . The replacement was carried out with a new batch provided by the supplier, a leading company in the sector in Spain, headquartered in Barcelona. Nevertheless, to the dismay of the municipal technicians, the problem has resurfaced in recent weeks. It is much more widespread on the railing and handrail of the access stairs facing west and the bay. And, curiously, it is less obvious, although still detectable to the naked eye, in the area most exposed to the easterly winds and the effects of sea spray in the air on the outer part of the port. The reaction of the material, which is supposed to be stainless steel, to the elements also gives it a completely rusty appearance in some areas: oxidized.

Materials analysis laboratory

The Councilor for Services and Public Works, Sandra Sánchez, explained to INFORMACIÓN that a different laboratory, separate from the one that conducted the previous tests indicating microbial contamination, has been contracted to analyze the problem with the stainless steel. The findings will determine the next steps for the project, which is currently under warranty. Sánchez acknowledged that the appearance of this essential part of the renovation, both from a maintenance and aesthetic standpoint, is not what it should be, but maintained that the analysis is necessary. She also indicated that it is not feasible for a municipal crew to carry out regular, frequent, and manual cleaning of all the handrails and railings. The municipality lacks the resources for this, and it would be ineffective given the condition of the steel, apart from the less frequent maintenance that would be performed under normal circumstances. She also noted that the work is still under warranty.

Concern about the condition of the metalwork, visible to all users of the promenade, was already raised by Councillor Pablo Samper of the opposition party Sueña Torrevieja during the plenary session last June. At that time, the response downplayed the corrosion process, which was very premature after only a few months of installation, with the governing team suggesting it was merely dirt.

Opening

The newly renovated elevated walkway has reopened to the public after being completed more than eight months behind schedule. The complete refurbishment of this space, originally built in 1999, features new continuous composite wood paving, an improved pedestrian route, and updated safety and protection elements. The works, primarily repairs and renovations, cover 1,247 linear meters and cost €6,543,733 (including VAT). They were carried out by CHM Obras e Infraestructuras and began in November 2024.

Difficult access

The main access to the promenade from the Hombre del Mar monument, however, will take some time to complete. It probably won't be fully operational until November. While a connection to the new leisure center is planned for a few months earlier, it's unlikely to be ready this August, as was initially envisioned when Paseo del Mar first opened.

For functional purposes, the entrance to the promenade is not yet fully accessible, and pedestrians must "find" their way between the fence of this construction project and that of the new leisure center, through the improvised path on the road and shared with vehicles accessing the Marina Salinas parking lot, trucks traveling towards the fish market, and heavy construction machinery.

Among the most notable improvements is the installation of a prefabricated concrete bench, designed specifically for this space, which also serves as a breakwater, integrating urban design and protection from the sea . The project has enhanced the access and transition areas, which now offer more spacious and open areas, "from which one can enjoy privileged views of the sea and the coastal environment." These areas maintain the character of the original promenade's pergolas.

The project was a long time coming: the City Council took almost five years to obtain authorization from the Generalitat (the regional government), because the promenade occupies public land under the jurisdiction of the Port Authority, and the municipality must assume its maintenance through an agreement and approve the project. Furthermore, the entire bidding process for the multi-million euro contract had to be repeated due to a contamination of information in the bids submitted for the public tender.

Public lighting

The renovation, which eliminated the problematic wooden decking installed during its construction in 1999, has incorporated a high-efficiency RGB public lighting system, financed with European funds, which, according to the governing team, "adds significant aesthetic value to the promenade as a whole." Inaugurated a few months ago, it alternates the colors of the Spanish flag with those of Torrevieja daily along 1,300 linear meters of the seafront. This innovative lighting system provides a "unique, dynamic, and attractive nighttime image, making it a new visual landmark on the Torrevieja coastline." The architectural lighting component of the project was financed with funds from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Facility, specifically Next Generation EU funds. It is part of the tourism sustainability plan in destination that is being developed in conjunction with the Secretary of State for Tourism of the Government of Spain and the Ministry of Innovation, Industry and Commerce, through Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, for an amount of 895,073 euros, within the overall budget of six million euros.

Prohibitions and maintenance

At the stair access points to the dock, the City Council placed signs with the rules of use, including the prohibition of riding bicycles or scooters, holding events without municipal authorization, consuming alcoholic beverages, street vending, and the presence of unaccompanied minors. However, during these months since reopening, the wear and tear on some areas is already evident, with tire tracks, fireworks, and all kinds of waste on the composite wood.

[Bee]

Hopefully it will be an easy fix because it is lovely.

Bee

[freddo]

I remember a post about this from a year ago sounds like the same problem

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