The government delegate in Galicia, Pedro Blanco, today claimed the commitment of the Government of Pedro Sánchez for the transformation and revitalization of Ferrol with investments of 5,000 M€ that are “returning the smile” to the city and that underpin a prosperous future on a new urban and economic model. Pedro Blanco made this statement during his first institutional visit to the City Council of Ferrol, where he was received by its mayor, Xosé Manuel Rey, in a meeting in which the subdelegate of the Government in A Coruña, María Rivas, also participated.
In this working meeting, which the delegate described as “intense and extensive”, they reviewed the investments of the Government of Pedro Sánchez in the city, which add up to a historical figure of 5,000 M€ and which place Ferrol as “the Galician city that concentrates the most investment in a shorter time by the Government of Spain”.
Among these investments, the delegate highlighted the economic and industrial impact of the F110 Frigates program, which guarantees workloads until 2031 with 9,000 jobs linked to this program, and to which a new AOR supply ship for the Navy will join. Also in the shipbuilding sector, Pedro Blanco highlighted the technological transformation of the Navantia shipyards, with the construction of the digital block factory as the most outstanding investment.
They also analyzed the progress of the agreement signed with the Ministry of Defense, which will allow the development of a new neighborhood in the grounds of the Sánchez Aguilera barracks, as well as the materialization of the replacement of the current Arsenal wall by a more permeable closure. The delegate pointed out that both are “historical demands” that the Government of Spain also addresses.
Regarding infrastructure and housing, the delegate recalled that the Ministry of Housing finances the construction of 61 homes for social rent in several actions and the rehabilitation of 168 more homes with funds from the Recovery Plan. Finally, they also reviewed the restoration work of San Felipe Castle, which will be possible with about one million euros contributed by the Fair Transition Institute, an entity dependent on the Ministry for Ecological Transition.
The government delegate reiterated to the mayor the commitment of the Government of Pedro Sánchez to continue betting on the progress of Ferrol, on the welfare of its citizens and on the transformation of its industrial fabric. And in this task, he extended his hand to the local government to ensure the correct execution of all projects, and to reach new investments for Ferrol based on the “close collaboration between City Council and Government to achieve the Ferrol that we all desire”.
These same messages were conveyed to the spokespeople of the municipal political groups of the City of Ferrol, with whom the delegate and the subdelegate also held a meeting.
Remodeling of As Pías Avenue
Today’s visit served to present the modification approved by the Government regarding the work of remodeling and humanization of the avenue of As Pías, which will transform the physiognomy of the main entrance of the city, creating a boulevard of more than one kilometer in length and connecting at the same level the neighborhoods of the environment. This action is included in the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR).
The delegate said that the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility will assume an improvement in the execution of this work that raises the initial budget by 20%. In total, it will be 1.7 M€ more “to improve this performance and carry it out with the least possible discomfort,” he explained. Pedro Blanco highlighted the periodic meetings held by technicians and managers with neighborhood associations and the local government from the beginning, and exemplified in the approved contractual amendment the will of the government to be “always next to” them.
New deviations in traffic
After the meetings held between the Ministry of Transport, the Government Delegation in Galicia and the City of Ferrol, the diversion of traffic until the completion of the works was agreed, with the aim of maintaining the permeability between the neighborhoods of Ultramar, O Bertón, Recimil, Esteiro and Caranza.
In particular, it was agreed to maintain pedestrian traffic at all times in the Rúa Nova de Caranza, the FE-11 (Trinchera road) and Marqués de Santa Cruz. Road traffic will always remain operational on two of these three main axes perpendicular to the FE-14 section on construction sites, with minimal additional travel times.
Stages of alternative diversions
Phase I (Current situation): Current diversion schedule, with total cut of FE-14, and Avda. Marqués de Santa Cruz, maintaining in service the Rúa Nova de Caranza and the FE-11 (through a bypass)
Phase II (End of April): Diversion itinerary from the 2nd half of April, where the Avenida Marqués de Santa Cruz will be put into service, connecting Caranza with O Bertón and the FE-13, and the FE-11 will be cut. All pedestrian crossings are kept operational.
Phase III (End of June): Detour schedule scheduled for the summer of 2024. They will be in service to FE-11 (Trinchera) and Avda. Marqués de Santa Cruz, and a bypass for pedestrians will be enabled adjacent to the Rúa Nova de Caranza pass. A temporary connection for road traffic will be established between the Rúa Nova de Caranza, the FE-14 roundabout and the FE-11.