The Seville City Council, through the metropolitan water company Emasesa and in coordination with the Macarena district, the Urban Planning and Environment Management and the Ecological Transition area, has approved the tender for an investment of 7.1 million euros for the renovation of the networks and the complete urban transformation of Avenida de la Cruz Roja and the streets Jorge Montemayor, Doctor Jiménez Díaz and Manuel Villalobos.

Co-financed with European funds through the @LifeWatercool of the EU Life program, the project expands pedestrian spaces, generates a new square, implements a sustainable urban drainage system, increases the number of trees and incorporates new fountains and landscaped areas.

The project is also part of a plan to improve mobility in the North and Macarena districts and is designed with criteria of sustainability, urban improvement and the fight against climate change. In fact, a sustainable urban drainage system, new public spaces, fountains, more trees and new fountains will be implemented throughout the area. The works will start as soon as the administrative process is completed.

In LifeWatercool, Emasesa, the City Council, the company SDOS and Efeverde of #EFE360 of the EFE Agency are participating.

Climate adaptation

The urban transformation of Avenida de la Cruz Roja and the surrounding streets is preceded by an extensive process of participation and debate, as well as technical studies to achieve a model of urban intervention that can serve as a benchmark and generate a more livable and healthy environment, bet on active mobility and public transport and contribute to the reduction of emissions and the fight against climate change.

“This urban transformation is going to translate into an improvement in the living conditions of this entire area and a boost in commercial activity. It is also a major new public investment in the Macarena district that will contribute to economic and social reactivation. This project is designed to be a benchmark for sustainable intervention,” explains the Macarena district delegate, Clara Macias.

The project tendered by Emasesa establishes firstly the renovation of the supply and sewerage networks that are in poor condition in Avenida de la Cruz Roja and the streets Jorge Montemayor, Doctor Jimenez Diaz and Manuel Villalobos. In total, more than 900 meters in length will be laid out with new pipelines that will improve the service provided in the area.

Following the criteria of the European Life Watercool call for proposals, a sustainable urban drainage system will be implemented throughout this area to control water at source and ensure the quality of runoff water. In addition, the aim is to generate more pleasant and healthy spaces for citizens and improve biodiversity. To this end, as SUDS techniques, structural tree surrounds, permeable pavements, floodable flowerbeds and infiltration wells will be used.

The section of the streets will be completely changed according to accessibility criteria, to favor pedestrian and cyclist mobility and to introduce new green areas and trees. La Cruz Roja will be left as a single-platform pedestrian road and will have 3.50 meters of mixed road for cyclists, hospital service and access to garages. At the connection with Manuel Villalobos and Doctor Jiménez Díaz streets, a new public square will be created with an ornamental fountain, a small urban forest around the ficus tree and a new bicycle lane. Throughout the entire layout, the paving will be different from the city’s sidewalks, with special permeable pavers and large-format prefabricated slabs in the new square. A specific design will be incorporated with different shades and the pavements will be made of bituminous concrete layers.

The urban transformation would also incorporate a new LED lighting network throughout the street and up to three ornamental fountains. Two at the green access gate to the Red Cross from the historic Ronda and another triangular in size in the new square that will be located in front of the school Arias Montano. There will also be new street furniture to create spaces for coexistence and public use.

As for the trees, the aim of the project is to practically double the number of existing trees in the area, which will have up to 271 specimens in total. The entire project will be carried out with a technical study of the existing trees, the empty tree wells and the new trees that will be planted throughout the area. There will also be more green and landscaped areas.