Port of Pollensa to have bypass at last

WORK has started on the Pollensa bypass which will link the Pollensa-Port de Pollensa road (PM 220) with the road linking the Port and Formentor. Residents have been demanding this road for more than 30 years. A committee was set up to back their claims a few years ago and has been instrumental in persuading the Council to embark on the project. Maria Antonia Munar, president of the Council of Majorca, visited the site, accompanied by her director of public works, Antoni Pascual Ribot, and the director of roads, Gonzalo Aguiar. They explained that work would take at least 11 months. Munar and her entourage were welcomed by Mayor Francisca Ramon, several town councillors and a large number of bystanders who showed interest in the work. The project will cost more than 4.6 million euros and will solve traffic problems caused by a huge number of vehicles driving through the port, especially during the summer months. Aguiar explained that four roundabouts will be built along the 3.5 kilometre road, to help distribute traffic and prevent problems. The new road will also have a line of parking spaces and drainage for rainwater which will carry excess water to water courses in the area and prevent puddles building up on the road. Aguiar added that the road would also be well lit and clearly sign posted.
Both Pascual and Munar praised the Port of Pollensa committee which had helped speed up the start of work. Munar said that this road will “provide a solution to the historical problems of the port, caused by the heavy traffic of hired cars and coaches going to Formentor.” She added that it had not been a priority but the Port of Pollensa committee had persuaded the Council to press ahead with its project by presenting a strong case and listing the problems. In August 2001, some 300 persons staged a demonstration in the port of Pollensa, calling for the construction of this bypass and those present yesterday expressed their satisfaction at the start of work.