Council to give the Rambla a new look

The Palma city council plans to convert a large part of the Via Roma into a pedestrian zone, leaving only one lane of traffic open towards the city centre. At the same time, work will start on a large underground car park which will stretch from the square adjacent to the dog track to the Via Roma, by the Clínica Rotger, which will be one of the biggest in the city. The new Via Roma will have one lane open to traffic, in the direction of the Rambla, so that cars will have to go along Calle Baron de Pinopar to reach the Avenidas. The pedestrian area will cover an area similar to that of the Rambla and extend to the limit of the buildings on the right hand side when looking towards the Avenidas. Councillor José María Rodrigue explained that the idea is to make it easier for pedestrians to reach the city centre on foot. It will also leave the way open for the introduction of a tram service or other type of public transport at a later date. The new car park will be one of the biggest in Palma, with a total of 817 places, 272 of which will be for people living in the area. The carpark will have an entrance ramp exclusively for residents in the Via Roma, by the Clinica Rotger. The other accesses will be in Avenida Portugal and behind the Instituto Joan Alcover. The exit ramps will be in Calle Baron de Pinopar and behind the Instituto Joan Alcover and the Institut Balear. Other underground car parks are planned for Plaza Porta de Santa Catalina (370 places), Plaza Santa Pagesa (759 places), Paseo de Mallorca-Ruben Dario (690 places) and Calle Constitución (172 places). Work is due to start before the end of the year. The car park now being built in Conde de Sallent will have 750 places, the one planned for Plaza España will have 840 places and the one in Sa Gerreria will have 718 places. Work on the latter two is expected to start shortly.