The PSIB proposes burying the ring road to connect neighborhoods and create a large green ring in Palma

PalmThe PSIB-PSOE party presented a proposal this Wednesday to bury the ring road (Ma-20) to reconnect neighborhoods outside the ring road with the center of Palma and create a large green belt with new public services and facilities. The initiative has been registered as a motion in both the plenary session of the Consell de Mallorca (Island Council of Mallorca), which will debate it this Thursday, and the Palma City Council. As a first step, the Socialists propose conducting a feasibility study to integrate neighborhoods with structural deficiencies such as Son Gotleu, Nou Llevant, La Soledad, Son Malferit, and Rafal Vell. The party in both institutions presented the proposal with the aim of eliminating the barrier posed by the Ma-20 and transforming the freed-up space into a green corridor with public areas, community facilities, and pedestrian and cycling routes, as explained in a statement. The presentation of the proposal was attended by the Socialist deputy spokesperson in the Consell, Sofia Alonso; councilor Joan Ferrer; and the Socialist councilors in Palma, Francesc Dalmau and Daniel Oliveira, along with neighborhood representatives from Son Gotleu, Nou Llevant, Rafal Vell, Rafal Nou, and Son Malferit. Alonso stated that the ring road is "a scar on Palma" that has generated inequalities and argued that burying it would allow for the "stitching up" of historically disconnected neighborhoods and advance social cohesion. She also criticized the PP's policies for prioritizing vehicular traffic. The motion proposes a first phase focused on the most vulnerable neighborhoods and envisions collaboration and co-financing from the Palma City Council, the Government of Palma, and the national government, in addition to European funds.