The bridge plazas improve urban connectivity, enhance hydraulic safety and transform the Guadalmedina riverbed into a major green corridor for Málaga.

The Guadalmedina River transformation project continues to advance as one of the most significant urban developments shaping Málaga’s future. During the forum “Bridge Plazas: A Safe Integration of the Guadalmedina”, organised by Diario SUR and Málaga City Council, ESTEYCO representatives presented the key technical and urban planning aspects of a proposal aimed at reconnecting the city with its river through an innovative, sustainable solution fully compatible with the highest hydraulic safety standards.

Carlos García Acón, CEO of ESTEYCO, and Andreu Estany, Director of the Architecture and Urban Planning Department, explained the details of a preliminary design intended to transform 32 hectares of urban space through an intervention that integrates engineering, architecture, mobility and nature.

Five bridge plazas to reconnect the city

The proposal includes the creation of five bridge plazas, elevated public spaces spanning the river corridor while connecting neighbourhoods on both sides of the Guadalmedina. Three of them will be located between the Armiñán and Aurora bridges, while the other two will be situated in the Santo Domingo area. These new structures have been designed to connect neighbourhoods across the riverbed, creating public spaces that simultaneously serve as meeting points, urban viewpoints and mobility links.

According to Andreu Estany, the bridge plazas have been conceived as spaces that “recognise the neighbourhoods” and strengthen the relationship between the city and the river. Their geometry responds to both functional and urban criteria, seeking the most effective way to connect streets without compromising the hydraulic performance of the river channel.

Each bridge plaza will also have its own identity, integrated into a continuous network of green spaces connected by boulevards featuring more than 600 trees and different layers of native vegetation.

Engineering in the service of safety

One of the key aspects of the project is its rigorous technical foundation. ESTEYCO’s teams have worked under strict hydraulic safety criteria, developing a solution tailored to extreme scenarios and supported by advanced modelling studies.

Málaga City Council has carried out topographic surveys, three-dimensional models and 69 hydraulic simulations to validate the system’s performance under flood events with return periods of up to 10,000 years. The design guarantees a minimum clearance of one metre between the water level and the bridge decks, including the new bridge plazas.

During the forum, several independent experts highlighted the technical robustness of the proposal. Leonardo Nania, Professor at the University of Granada, stated that the solution developed by ESTEYCO improves safety compared to the current situation by increasing the existing clearance margins at several points along the river channel.

An integrated vision for Málaga’s future

The intervention goes beyond the riverbed itself. The project includes the progressive undergrounding of traffic on both riverbanks, the adaptation of existing urban infrastructure and the integration of drainage and flood attenuation systems for intense rainfall events.

Carlos García Acón emphasised during the event the importance of addressing the bridge plazas, tunnels and future urban connections as a whole to ensure a coherent transformation that can be implemented in phases. The proposal has been developed taking into account geotechnical, hydraulic, mobility and urban services constraints, with the aim of facilitating future strategic developments for the city and improving connectivity with the Port of Málaga.

A project that brings together engineering, architecture and nature

The Guadalmedina project represents a unique opportunity to redefine Málaga’s relationship with its main urban axis. ESTEYCO’s proposal is based on infrastructure integrated into the landscape, where engineering and architecture work together to create high-quality public spaces, increase resilience to climate change and strengthen urban cohesion.

Through this initiative, ESTEYCO reinforces its ability to lead complex urban transformation projects, combining technical innovation, sustainability and a long-term vision for the city.

Photo: Diario SUR