Light at the end of Bendinat tunnel as work advances

The light is now shining through at both ends of the Bendinat tunnel and yesterday Calvia council and the construction company toasted the break through as the 738 million peseta project enters into the final stage of construction. The tunnel, once completed, will make road connections between the Palma and Port Andraitx motorway much easier. When the tunnel first comes into use, it will only be open to traffic heading in the direction of Calvia - the second stage, which will allow a two-way flow of traffic, is still being studied. The Mayor of Calvia, Margarita Najera and the director general of Public Works and Transport, Joaquin Rodriguez, were both on site yesterday to watch the connection being made and, with their hard hats on (above) joined in the toast. The tunnel is 178 metres long and the first phase will also involve the laying of one kilometre of new road. It is hoped that phase one will be completed and in operation by the Autumn. The new tunnel will make access to and from Bendinat much easier and also help to reduce the dense level of traffic along the motorway. Yesterday local councillors inspected the two entrances to the tunnel and the mayor said that she is very pleased with the pace at which the construction, admittedly a very complicated one, is going.