The new street, which takes its name from the Lorca architect José Luis Fernández Romero, goes from the Ramblilla de San Lázaro to the street of La Parroquia
In its almost two kilometers, the autonomous community invested 3.27 million euros, to which must be added the municipal financing of 623,000 euros to deal with expropriations.
Fulgencio Gil Jódar: “The implementation of the North Ring Road and the South Ring Road will prevent about 10,000 vehicles from traveling through the main artery, which will decongest the city.”
November 20, 2023 The Barrios Altos road, which connects the Ramblilla de San Lázaro to the La Parroquia highway, will allow permeability between the neighborhoods of San Lázaro, San Pedro, Santa María, and San Juan, but also to other old towns without having to do it through the main artery. It was emphasized this Monday by the mayor, Fulgencio Gil Jódar, during the inauguration of the new road by the president of the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia, Fernando López Miras.
The president of the region emphasized that the new highway “will facilitate travel for thousands of citizens” and improve the “connection” between the neighborhoods of Santa María, San Pedro, San Juan and San Lázaro, in addition to providing more convenience for residents, as well as a traffic decongestion in the center of Lorca. “Also, the Barrios Altos area is now better integrated into the historical center.”
The Barrios Altos road, said Gil Jódar, “is important to connect the neighborhoods of San Juan, Santa María, San Pedro, and San Lázaro without having to go through the old part of the city. It is an imperative need to be able to evacuate these areas if necessary, something that was lost after the earthquakes of May 2011.”
And this means that “with the launch of this ‘North Round’ and, a few days later, the last section of the ‘South Round’, about 10,000 vehicles will stop traveling through the main artery of the city. We will gain mobility, but also accessibility. Above all, the emergency services, due to the narrowness of most of the streets in these neighborhoods, found the passage for their vehicles difficult.
The project, he recalled, was financed by the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia through the European Investment Bank, Bei, with 3.27 million euros. But it is also necessary to emphasize the important effort made by the City Council. An economic effort of 623,354.04 euros to allow the construction of this road, almost two kilometers long, with an expropriation project that initially affected 23 houses, of which three more spaces were added shortly.
And he emphasized the “economic effort, but also the negotiation with the owners of the Urban Planning and Management Service that, I know, was not only diligent but effective in reaching agreements where the special sensitivities were with affected neighbors. “All of them were transferred in an intense collaborative effort made between the Planning Service and the Department of Social Services.”
The new road has traffic lanes in both directions, sidewalks, lights, railings, etc. But the whole area has also been given new infrastructure for drinking water distribution facilities, pre-installation of low-voltage conduits, and telecommunications. Applying the latest technology “will allow us substantial savings in lighting with LED street lights,” he added.
The mayor explained the fact that “like any big project, it is not free from failures and difficulties. It started in January 2022 and lasted until just a few weeks ago. This becomes complicated due to the complexity of the land. But also because of the need to build retaining walls, the transfer of a medium voltage line, the eviction and demolition of a’squatted’ house that prevents the development of works, and the displacement of the road due to the shape of the rest. “.
Among the visionaries of the need for this road, he noted, is the one who will give it his name starting this Monday, José Luis Fernández Romero. “In this way, we want to recognize the professional and humanitarian work of this architect, entrusted to his city. He coordinated and organized the work from the City Hall after the flood in October 1973, which has been half a century since he passed away a few days ago. But he was also the first architect to appear at City Hall who offered himself selflessly after the May 2011 earthquakes.
His signature, he added, was “in the emblematic buildings of our city, where he gave the air of modernity, changing practices, design, and construction methods, and managing the position of Lorca as a regional reference for architectural design with constructions such as Torre Lorca. Building, better known as the ‘Masters’. Goya, or Gaudí, is given for the quality of the building.
This is also his work, he explained, the Municipal Urban Planning Management, which received in 1999 the Special Award for professional work in favor of architecture and urban planning in the Regional Awards of the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia. “His imprint is in the city, but it will continue because his son, Gonzalo Fernández Ilundain Romero, who worked with him, continues his rise with beautiful projections.”
The widow of José Luis Fernández Romero, María Victoria Ilundain Linaza, and her four children, José Luis, Mariví, Gonzalo, and Patricia, attended the event and, together with the mayor, unveiled the plaque with the name ‘Avenida Arquitecto José Luis Fernández Romero ‘, located on a wall of the atrium of the old church of San Pedro. Gil Jódar thanked the widow and children of José Luis Fernández, reminding them that “this success would not have been possible without the projection of your father and husband.”
López Miras remembers that the architect José Luis Fernández Romero was a “main figure in the urban configuration of Lorca, who had an impeccable career, who loved his city and its people, who were always next to its land, and who always worked for it.” .
