LEZAMA GREENWAY AND BICYCLE PATH IN BILBAO

Area of activity
WATER AND ENVIRONMENT

Service
Environment and biodiversity

Client
Provincial Council of Bizkaia

Scope

• Analysis and Diagnosis of the current situation
• Integration in the Bizkaia’s cycling routes network.
• Design of alternatives and layout
• Geological-geotechnical study
• Structural Study. Artxanda Tunnel

Duration
2021-2022

The construction project of the “Vía Vieja de Lezama” nature trail or greenway, between the municipalities of Bilbao and Derio (Bizkaia), which will define an infrastructure integrated in the network of cycle paths of Bizkaia, is a cyclo-pedestrian path that will run for 7.3 km and will connect Bilbao and Derio, passing through Sondika, Zamudio and Loiu.

The design of this natural path will conform to the layout established by the Foral government in 2012 and also to the requirements established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to be a beneficiary of the Natural Paths Program, since the execution of the project will be carried out as part of this program.

The previous planning document prepared by the Provincial Council in 2012 for the Vía Vieja de Lezama proposes a route that starts in Montaño (Bilbao) and runs almost entirely along the railroad platform that linked the Biscayan capital and Lezama (in disuse since 1908), which includes a 500 m long tunnel, until it reaches the Txorierri Corridor.

From this point, the route rests on the current access road to the Bidekurtze neighborhood of Sondika and from there continues through the area of Santimami, in the municipalities of Loiu and Zamudio, connecting with the Txorierri cycling axis planned by the Commonwealth of this region.

This route will connect the cyclable network of Bilbao with the Txorierri-Mungialdea region through a route with a great tourist and naturalistic attraction, allowing at the same time to recover an important part of the heritage and historical memory. In addition, it constitutes a route for leisure and tourism activities within the area of influence of the Way of St. James.

Likewise, through the municipal network of Derio, the section will also link up with another planned route that will run through Artebakarra until it connects with the route of the old train that used to reach Mungia and which is currently a cycle path.