Torrevieja is building a new 40,000 m² bus station. The city is looking for a private investor
The Torrevieja City Council has taken a decisive step toward implementing one of the most important infrastructure projects in recent years. In December 2024, it initiated a procedure to amend the General Urban Development Plan (PGOU), which is intended to enable the construction of a new municipal bus station on the site of Enclave 13—a plot covering nearly 40,000 m², located along the CV-905 road, between Avenida de Rosa Mazón and Juan Valera Street in the La Torreta neighborhood.
A Project That Took 15 Years
The idea of building a new bus terminal has been on the minds of Torrevieja’s authorities for over a decade. The current People’s Party administration, led by Mayor Eduardo Dolón, revived the project in 2019 with the aim of replacing the city’s only existing bus station, which is privately owned and operated by Avanza. Its current location in the city center, near the Colonia de San Esteban neighborhood, causes serious traffic problems and offers poor service, which damages the city’s image as a tourist destination.
“This is a transportation system designed a decade ago that hasn’t evolved along with Torrevieja,” the mayor of Dolón admitted in an interview.
Concession model: the city provides the land, the investor builds
A key element of the project is a concession granted to a private company, which will cover the costs of building the new infrastructure. In exchange for the investment, the company will be able to operate the retail area and parking lot built around the new station.
The plan calls for dividing the site into several functional zones:
| Zone | Area | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Terminal | 7,504 m² | New City Bus Station |
| Civil Protection | 3,303 m² | New headquarters for emergency services |
| Public parking lots | 5,100 m² | Parking spaces for travelers |
| Public Transportation Depot | 6,978 m² | Workshop, garages, and fleet parking lot |
| Railway Reserve | 4,526 m² | Hypothetical Future Train Station |
| Health/Educational Services | 12,000 m² | Private Sector (auction) |
Investments and Financing
The city is providing the land necessary for the construction of permanent facilities for the future public transportation operator, including repair shops, garages, and a fleet parking lot. The cost of these facilities will be borne by the future concessionaire. In December 2024, the city government purchased three additional lots with a total area of 1,600 m² for 308,560 euros, supplementing the main plot of over 38,000 m². The total purchase price for the six plots amounted to over 4 million euros.
It is worth noting that the main plot, which is designated in the current General Urban Development Plan (PGOU) as an area for public-use development compatible with private development, cost the city 5.2 million euros and was acquired in 2012 following a lengthy judicial expropriation process.
Amendment to the Land Use Plan
The procedure for amending the General Urban Development Plan (PGOU) includes, among other things, a traffic study that will define the design of new access roads to the future train station. The scope of work also covers the urban development needs of the areas and the subdivision of lots. The local government has declared that it will finance and carry out the urban development of its own parcel and the access roads so as not to burden the future concession with these costs.
“Mayor Eduardo Dolón’s priority is the construction of a bus terminal,” city officials emphasize. The project is being coordinated by the City Property Department under the direction of Councilman Domingo Paredes, who is also responsible for contracts.
Planning for the Future: The Train Station and Private Services
One of the most interesting aspects of the project is the 4,526 m² of land set aside for the hypothetical construction of a train station, in case it becomes technically and economically feasible to restore the rail connection in the future.
The second notable feature is a 12,000 m² reserve designated for public use, which will be sold at auction for private health or educational purposes. Although this part of the project is to be implemented last, city sources indicate that there is already interest from medical groups and educational institutions. The city currently has only one (public-private) music school serving elementary and secondary levels, and private medical groups are seeking opportunities to expand.
The Old Train Station: A Green Future
Along with the construction of new infrastructure, the Torrevieja authorities plan to purchase the current bus station on Avenida de las Habaneras (across from the Mercadona store) and transform the site into a green space. The 2,253 m² plot has been valued at over 4.5 million euros. The project was initiated midway through the previous term of office but is facing difficulties—the current owner does not seem willing to sell until there is a guarantee that the new terminal will be built.
New Public Transportation: Concession Awarded to Avanza
In March 2026, the city officially awarded the public transportation concession to Avanza Movilidad Levante, S.L. for a period of 10 years. The contract, valued at 67.8 million euros (after an 18% reduction from the base budget), provides for:
- Doubling the fleet from 16 to 32 buses (26 hybrid and 6 electric)
- Growth in employment from 41 to over 100 employees
- 9 daytime routes and 3 nighttime routes
- Modern real-time passenger information systems
- Mobile app and customer service locations
The new operational base, featuring workshops, garages, and a control center, will be built in Enclave 13, on a 7,550 m² lot at the intersection of Juan Valera Street and Rosa Mazón Valero Avenue. This project is estimated to cost over 4.1 million euros (including a charging station for 12 electric buses) and will become the property of the city upon the expiration of the concession.
Outlook
Mayor Eduardo Dolón estimates that the new transportation network could be ready by next summer. At the same time, he plans to open four Park&Ride facilities with a total capacity of 2,000 spaces, connected to the new city bus network. The authorities’ vision also includes the creation of an intermodal station integrating buses, taxis, and—in the long term—rail.
"This is a decisive step toward modern, efficient, and sustainable public transportation in Torrevieja," concludes Mayor Dolón.
