Work on Red Cross Avenue for climate adaptation to begin before the summer

Jorge Molina, 24 Mar (EFEverde/Lifewatercool).- The works of climate adaptation of the Red Cross Avenue in Seville, which will turn it into a pedestrian walkway, with hydrant floors, more vegetation and rest areas for pedestrians, already have a date, it will be before the summer and will be carried out in the framework of an EU demonstration project of adaptation to the climate crisis LIFE Watercool, endowed with 7.1 million euros.

Tree planting 

Tree planting in Albaida street, in the Macarena district. EFE/Jorge Molina

This was announced this morning by the Councilor for Human Resources and Digital Modernization, Clara Macias, during a tree planting in Albaida Street, one of the roads in the project’s area of action.

Only emergency vehicles, from the Red Cross hospital, and users of the garages will enter, together with a change in mobility and traffic in the area, as requested by the neighborhood and merchants in a referendum. “The benefit is going to be evident as soon as the five bus lines that now run along the avenue stop passing through,” explained Macías.

In the planting of trees this morning were also present the Deputy Mayor Delegate of the Area of Ecological Transition and Sports City Council of Seville and director of the Metropolitan Water Supply and Sanitation of Seville (Emasesa), coordinator of the LIFE Watercool project, co-financed by the EU.

Also, representatives of neighbors and merchants of the Macarena district of Seville, where the Avenida de la Cruz Roja is located, and the Association of Mothers and Fathers (AMPA) of the Arias Montano school, one of the rooms where the project will be implemented, who have been given seedlings for the school.

LIFE Watercool aims to make Seville a world reference in urban adaptation to the effects of climate change, and a mirror in which cities suffering from high temperatures and water scarcity can look at when applying measures against global warming.

Public spaces for pedestrians

With this initiative “Europe sends a message to all countries and it is good that they put the focus on Seville when defending the environment and much more friendly spaces for pedestrians,” said the councilor in reference to the pioneering nature of the project, which is implemented through the municipal water company, Emasesa.

The Deputy Mayor Delegate of the Area of Ecological Transition and Sports of Seville City Council and EMASESA director, José Luis David Guevara García. Emasesa/Paco BarreraTree planting in Albaida street, in the Macarena district. EFE/Jorge MolinaThe project provides for the renovation of the supply and sewerage networks in poor condition in Avenida de la Cruz Roja and the streets Jorge Montemayor, Doctor Jiménez Díaz and Manuel Villalobos. In total, more than 900 meters of new pipelines. A sustainable urban drainage system will be implemented throughout this area to control water at source and ensure the quality of runoff water.

The pedestrianization of Avenida de la Cruz Roja aims to return public spaces to the people and create places for recreation and socializing with a reduction in polluting gases and temperature. For this aspect, three spaces or rooms will be created, of short, medium and long duration, in which prototypes will be installed that generate environmental conditions that reduce heat by two to three degrees.

The short term will be a bioclimatic bus stop located in the area around the Arias Montano school square and another medium term location is planned within the area of the school itself.

In the long-term stay, located in the park of Montemayor street, devices called “wind trees” will be established, which will also generate a temperature reduction around the area and are based on the use of water and solar panels, which is “a green-sustainable concept”. The “wind trees” will be powered by the water stored in cisterns that will be built in the area of the project, from which a current of fresh air will be generated.

All this is complemented by a significant vegetation cover, with the aim of achieving “a reduction of about 5 or 6 degrees”, a very important and appreciable reduction for pedestrians.

Reducing vehicle traffic

La concejala de Recursos Humanos y Modernización Digital, Clara Macías (iz), junto a representantes del AMPA del centro Arias Montano. Emasesa/Paco Barrera

The initiative is part of a plan to improve mobility in the North and Macarena districts, will generate a new square at the connection with Manuel Villalobos and Doctor Jimenez Diaz streets with an ornamental fountain, a small urban forest around the ficus and a new bike lane.

The section of the streets will be completely changed following accessibility criteria, to favor pedestrian and cyclist mobility and to introduce new green areas and trees. The Red Cross 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.

The entire layout will be paved with special permeable cobblestones 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 will 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 Ronda histórica and another triangular fountain in the new square that will be located in front of the Arias Montano school. 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 European LifeWatercool project involves, in addition to Emasesa, the Seville City Council, the University of Seville, the company SDOS and Agencia EFE through Efeverde. EFE

Information provided by EFEverde of Agencia EFE and published as part of its participation in the European Union’s Life WaterCool project.

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