Por Redaccion 
The Minister of Sustainability and Environment, Catalina García, visited the rehabilitation works of the iron bridge, an emblematic infrastructure from the late 19th century located over the Palmones River, in the municipality of Los Barrios (Cádiz). The project, with a public investment of €306,020.82, co-financed with European funds MRR-NextGenerationEU, began on May 16th and has a expected completion time of three months. Along with the Minister, the Mayor of Los Barrios, Miguel Fermín Alconchel, the territorial delegate of Sustainability and Environment in Cádiz, Óscar Curtido, the head of the Protected Natural Spaces service, Felipe Oliveros, and the deputy mayor, Antonio Dávila, among other attendees, were present during the visit.
As Catalina García explained, this project is part of the strategy of «recovery of historical infrastructures» promoted by the Andalusian Government to promote sustainable mobility, enhance heritage, and improve access to natural areas of high ecological value. The iron bridge, with a length of 42 meters, was built following the lattice beams typology, very characteristic of the engineering inspired by the French Gustave Eiffel.
This comprehensive rehabilitation, as pointed out by the Minister, «will respect the structural and aesthetic essence of the original work and adapt it for cyclist and pedestrian use«. Additionally, she specified that the works are progressing «at a good pace» and that, along with environmental cleaning and safety measures, there is «a waste collection system to preserve the natural environment during the intervention». The project also includes a finish with a ‘wood’ type imprinted concrete texture that will provide «a more friendly and integrated aesthetic in the natural environment, in addition to being functional and resistant».
‘Eurovelo 8’ cycling route
The Minister also highlighted «the strategic location of the bridge at the beginning of the old road between Facinas and Los Barrios, currently converted into a forest path«. Thus, she detailed that this route is part of the ‘Eurovelo 8’ cycling route, «one of the major European axes of cycling mobility that connects Cádiz with the rest of the Mediterranean, and represents an important economic and social development engine in the area». She also emphasized that «it is a real privilege to be able to cycle or hike through all these natural surroundings surrounded by nature».
The Minister of Sustainability and Environment highlighted that these types of actions represent a unique opportunity to «reconcile historical heritage with the new demands for sustainability, citizen use, and ecological connection between territories». In this sense, she underscored the importance of recovering historical bridges as «functional elements of an Andalusian green network designed for cyclists, hikers, and visitors seeking active and environmentally friendly tourism».
The rehabilitation of the iron bridge adds to other similar actions already underway or completed by the Ministry, such as the recovery of the San Alejandro bridge -also from the 19th century-, installed in the San Pedro River Cut, connecting El Puerto de Santa María with Puerto Real, within the Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park. Likewise, the construction of a new cycling footbridge over the Guadarranque River is planned in the coming months, consolidating a continuous green mobility axis in the province.
«These actions not only represent an investment in sustainable infrastructure but also rescue structures full of history from oblivion, returning them to citizens as useful, safe, and environmentally friendly spaces. In this way, the Andalusian Government reaffirms its commitment to environmental protection, heritage enhancement, and the promotion of alternative, inclusive, and responsible mobility models», highlighted the Minister.