Port accessSanturtzi Town Council and the Bilbao Port Authority have agreed to press ahead with the renewal of their collaboration agreement, which will enable 4 million euros to be invested over the next four years in improvements to port areas of public access within the town. The decision was taken following the latest monitoring committee meeting between the two institutions, and must now be approved in the next plenary meeting of the Council.
The agreement provides for an annual investment of one million euros to carry out projects designed to improve the urban environment, accessibility and public access to the seafront, thereby strengthening the existing close collaboration between the port and the local council. In this sense, Itziar Carrocera, mayoress of Santurtzi, highlighted the importance of this agreement for continuing to transform and improve strategic areas of the town. “This is very good news for Santurtzi. The renewal of this agreement will allow us to continue investing in projects that improve the quality of life of our people, whilst also strengthening the historic connection our town has with the sea”.
She also emphasised that the agreement represents a new opportunity to continue refurbishing and adapting port areas for community use. “Thanks to this collaboration, we’ll be able to continue making progress on initiatives that will make Santurtzi a more accessible and friendlier town, with better public services. We’re talking about new promenades, improvements to pedestrian and cycle routes, accessibility measures and urban amenities that help to foster a sense of community and create spaces where everyone can come together,” she explained.
The projects eligible for funding under this agreement include improvements to land owned by the Port Authority in Santurtzi. These projects are similar to those undertaken under previous agreements, such as the footbridge providing access to the Mikel Trueba sports centre and Avenida Murrieta, the leisure and play area in the fishing port and the cycle path towards Zierbena.
The mayoress also highlighted the close collaboration between the City Council and the Port Authority over recent years, which has enabled key urban regeneration projects to be taken forward in the town.
“Cooperation between public authorities is essential for tackling transformative projects. This agreement is a clear example of how institutional collaboration translates into real investment that has a direct impact on citizens’ well-being and on improving our environment,” she concluded.
For his part, Ivan Jimenez, president of the Port Authority, stated that “the renewal of this agreement reaffirms the Port’s ongoing commitment to Santurtzi and to improving the common areas we share with the public. The collaboration between the two institutions has proved to be an effective tool for driving forward projects that generate social value, improve accessibility and promote the integration of the port area into the town’s daily life. We will continue to work together to develop initiatives that contribute to the well-being of local residents and the sustainable development of our community”.
Jiménez also pointed out that this collaboration has made it possible to undertake a number of high-impact initiatives for the town in recent years. “These are projects that have helped to bring the port closer to the public and improve the quality of shared spaces,” he said. In this regard, he reiterated the Port Authority’s commitment to the development of its immediate surroundings, promoting initiatives that foster port-city integration, accessibility and the creation of new opportunities for the enjoyment and well-being of the public.
