Big Benidorm Building Projects

there's no time like the future

Ever wondered why Spain is occasionally referred to as mañanland? Well as any procrastinator will tell you, there's no time like the future, and here are three Benidorm tales which demonstrate why.

After a mere nine years it looks like the Benidorm Cultural Centre will begin to take shape. Paralysed for all that time, the enormous flat piece of ground on the Avenida Europa will finally see some cultural action now that the finances of the 43000 square metre structure have been sorted out.

The similar long running 'will it, won't it' questions surrounding the proposed Poniente Promenade look to be answered in the affirmative as the contract to construct the beachside 'paseo' has been awarded to the same company which built the new town hall, Dragados - Ecisa. They reckon they can build the prom for €12.9 million, that's a mere €1.2 million less than the budget figure.

Another long overdue project is the Benidorm Bus Station. It should have been open for business and buses last Easter but will not open until at least the end of the year. Beset with problems, the main one has been that the building is 10% bigger than the original plans (shades of the Hotel Bali there).

The only upside to this situation is that we can wait and wait and wait for the bus station and then three will all appear together!

3 July 2006 Stephen White.