Future plans for the town of Maó

Proposed ring road to connect Maó, Sant Lluís and Es Castell

Artery. Connecting the major centres in the areajavier

The dual carriageway would also link the main centres of population in the district with the main road from Maó to Ciutadella, the port and the airport

C.M.W..Maó

Led by Josep Parcerisa, a team from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya has produced an advance copy of the new PGOU (general town plan) for Maó based on the concept of "a more friendly, humane and integrated city where everyone can live in quality with dignity, which respects the rural surroundings, the heritage and the countryside and which meets the needs of those who inhabit it".

At the presentation of the advance plan last week, the Mayor of Maó, Arturo Bagur, said that "it will be an instrument which will directly or indirectly affect the lives of the citizens" as it deals with the future growth of the town, circulation, equipment etc.

The advance plan has looked at traffic circulation in depth, taking note of the shortcomings of the Vía Ronda. The proposal is for a dual carriageway ring road to link Maó, Es Castell and Sant Lluís, starting from the Maó industrial estate and heading east and from the Camino Santa Maria heading south. This would connect the main centres of population in the area with the road to Ciutadella, the port and the airport and would allow the Vía Ronda and the Maó-Sant Lluís roads to be converted to avenues or boulevards.

The plan also considers a possible population of 7,150 inhabitants by the year 2015, which would require the provision of a minimum of 1,224 new homes which would preferably be situated in the Creu d´en Ramis, Malbúger and the area next to the schools; a total of 61 hectares.

According to Parcerisa, the plan endeavours to ensure that the schools are integrated into the town and that they are reached by urban streets. Other actions considered in respect of urban growth are an extension to Jardins de Malbúger and encouraging the development of the area around Avenida Màrius Verdaguer.

Amongst the plan´s proposals for the town is a new look for the Explanada, accentuating its character as a centre for commerce and services. Creating quality public facilities, such as a small auditorium or a library cum children´s play centre, encouraging the continuation of the commercial and pedestrian aspect of the Ses Moreres-Avenida Menorca axis, or simplifying the traffic will be some of the ideas to be carried out in this area of the town.

The document also refers to the need to set up new planning instruments to complete reform projects in the town which are at a standstill, such as Es Freginal Park, Sa Sínia des Cuc or Sa Sínia d´en Bep Frare.