The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands  (APB) has put out to tender the structural rehabilitation of the retaining wall on the access road to the Formentor lighthouse, which has been closed since September due to the risk of landslides.

At that time there was a local break in the wall, on which the MA-2210 road is located. The material broke off in the form of a 6-metre wedge in the longitudinal axis of the road, up to 3 metres crosswise and 6 metres in height.

In 2013, a similar episode occurred, so it is suspected that more earth could be dislodged in the future, thus considering it appropriate to carry out a comprehensive improvement of the safety of the wall to prevent accidents from happening.

The work will last four months and has an initial budget of 628,239 euros. The deadline for receiving bids is 20 December 2021. Interested parties may submit their applications through the APB's e-tendering portal.

Reconstruction process

The masonry work will be carried out using the traditional construction technique of "pedra en sec". In the first stage, it is planned to demolish both the existing road surface and the retaining wall in that section. Next, the excavation of the earth on the outer face of the wall and the dismantling of the existing construction will be carried out.

The area of intervention will be limited to the space occupied by the existing road and the retaining wall, avoiding any impact on the flora and fauna located in the surrounding areas. In fact, the works are located in a protected environment and, therefore, all the indications of the Natural Habitats service of the Government of the Balearic Islands (GOIB) will be taken into account.

Subsequently, the land will be levelled and work will begin on the wall, which is expected to be 52.5 metres long and up to 6 metres high.