The Huerva River continues its historical transformation as it passes through Saragossa. The City Council has awarded the works of the second phase of its environmental and landscape regeneration, an ambitious project that seeks to return life to this urban channel, create new green spaces and reconnect the city with its banks. The investment amounts to 23 million euros, VAT included, and will not only improve the biodiversity of the river, but also to offer the neighbors five new parks, renewal of three other green areas and paths to enjoy next to the water.
As explained by the Minister of Environment and Mobility, Tatiana Gaudes, the award has been closed with a saving of more than 2.3 million euros compared to the initial tender price, which added 25.3 million in total. The works will be divided into two sections and, in both cases, the winner is the same company: the UTE Construcciones MLN SAU. – Engineering and global environmental resolution techniques.
The first section, which goes from the Blasco del Cacho bridge to the Gran Vía, will have five new parks and the renewal of the urban environment. This contract amounts to 16.23 million euros and has an execution period of 15 months. In addition to the creation of green areas, several streets will be reformed to make them more accessible and fauna shelters, animal steps and inclusive furniture will be installed.
The Sopesens Park will have an area of 3,700 square meters
The amount of award sums23 million euros
The first of the new spaces will be the Sopesens Park, which will rise on the storm tank under construction and will have 3,700 square meters designed for recess, rest and pedestrian circulation in full harmony with the river landscape. Very close to the Bruno Solano Park, with 3,370 square meters and a clear multifunctional vocation: accessible, sustainable and safe, it will include a large children’s games area of 600 square meters and inclusive urban furniture.
For its part, the Emperor Park, next to Juan Pablo Bonet streets and Saturday’s race, add 2,600 square meters of surface and will also have children’s play areas, integrating nature and leisure in the heart of the Huerva corridor.
The second section will take place between the Miguel Servet bridge and the mouth in the Ebro, with a cost of 6.84 million euros and a period of 8 months. Here will act on three existing parks – Villafeliche, the Linear Park of the Huerva and a part of the Bruil Park -, improving vegetation, lighting and accesses to facilitate direct contact with the channel. Paths and furniture will also be renewed, and will work to control invasive species and avoid discharges.
More trees and naturalized spaces
The first section, between the Blasco del Cacho and Gran Vía bridge, has an execution period of 15 months
In total, the second phase of the works will involve the complete recovery of the orva in its urban layout. Trees will be planted, naturalized spaces will be created and recreational areas compatible with the natural dynamics of the river will be enabled. The goal is to achieve a green corridor that works as a lung for Zaragoza and a meeting point for citizens.
The project has financing of the Biodiversity Foundation, through the recovery, transformation and resilience funded by the European Union, which contributes about 5 million euros. In addition, the government of Aragon He has pledged to invest up to 20 million within the bilateral agreements with the City Council to complete the planned actions.
Gaudes stressed that this intervention will not only improve the landscape and environmental health of the city, but will also create new opportunities for leisure, sport and coexistence around the Huerva. “We are going to recover a river that was forgotten for decades and we will fully integrate it into the life of Zaragoza,” he said.
