The councillor Juan Manuel Lafuente has visited the works on the stretch of Pont d'en Barona, where 202 metres of walls will be reconstructed with an investment of €547,363.
The reconstruction works of the walls of Torrent Major in Sóller are progressing well. The councillor for the Sea and Water Cycle, Juan Manuel Lafuente, visited the area of Pont d’en Barona on Tuesday accompanied by the mayor of Sóller, Miquel Nadal, and other members of the municipal government team. The project, with a budget of €547,363.54, aims to reinforce the protection of the municipality against the risk of flooding.
A Black Spot of the Torrent
The stretch between Pont d’en Barona and the Sóller tram bridge had several points with collapsed walls or insufficient height. These deficiencies have caused overflows that have affected homes and agricultural plots on the right bank of the torrent, with a risk of extending towards the area of l’Horta de Sóller, a region of great agricultural value.
The project includes the reconstruction of 202 linear metres of wall in three sections: 115, 42, and 45 metres. The new walls will reach a height of 3.5 metres, designed to withstand a flow corresponding to a return period of 100 years, meaning an extraordinary flood that statistically occurs once every century.
Investment Multiplied by 2.5
The intervention is part of a global strengthening of regional investment in torrent management. The new contracts for the maintenance of waterways in Mallorca will increase from €5.1 million in previous lots to €12.67 million for the period 2026-2029, which means multiplying the available resources by 2.5.
Councillor Lafuente highlighted that this increase will allow for a quicker response to emergency situations and a continuous improvement of the waterways. Additionally, the Ministry has launched a grant line of €300,000 for the cleaning of torrents in agricultural and livestock operations, with an application deadline until 31 July 2026.
Technical and Landscape Solutions
The works include the demolition of the deteriorated walls and the construction of new mass concrete containment elements, founded below the level of the watercourse. To favour integration into the environment, they will be clad with natural stone from the area. Drainage systems and protection against undermining will also be incorporated, as well as the raising of the abutments of Pont d’en Barona and the tram bridge, whose current walls are lower than the rest of the channeling.
The awarded company is ELSAMEX Gestión de Infraestructuras SL, and the execution period is six months. The works are expected to be completed by the end of August, just before the autumn rainy season. The residents of Sóller, especially those in the l’Horta area, will be able to breathe more easily knowing that the torrent will be better prepared for the upcoming storms.
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