TRAM viaducts between Altea and Calpe win top Alicante award

The spectacular viaducts carrying the TRAM through one of the most challenging sections of the northern Costa Blanca have been recognised as the best public works project in Alicante province.

The new structures at the Algar and Mascarat have won the FOPA Award for Best Work in the Province of Alicante, highlighting an engineering project that has transformed a key section of the Line 9 route between Altea and Calpe.

Major engineering achievement

The award was announced as part of the 18th FOPA Awards, organised by the Federation of Public Works and Auxiliary Companies of Alicante. Judges praised the project for its technical complexity, distinctive engineering and the wider economic and social importance of the railway connection for the Marina Alta and Marina Baixa.

The project was promoted by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV), with a total investment of €13.6 million. Construction was carried out by Pavasal Empresa Constructora and a joint venture between CHM Obras e Infraestructuras and TECSA Empresa Constructora.

The works took 14 months and were completed in 2025.

Two viaducts, one vital connection

The project included the construction of 1,906 metres of piles, as well as a new 226-metre railway viaduct crossing the Algar river.

A second structure was built at Mascarat, measuring 44.6 metres and also designed for a single track.

At the Algar, the new bridge was constructed alongside the existing structure, allowing the historic bridge to be retained and converted into a pedestrian and cycling route.

At Mascarat, the historic bridge deck was replaced with a new Pratt-type metal structure while retaining its familiar appearance.

Boost for the Marina Alta and Baixa

The improvements form part of the wider modernisation of Line 9, which provides an important rail link between the Marina Baixa and Marina Alta.

For residents, commuters and visitors, the upgraded infrastructure is designed to improve safety, reliability and the long-term operation of the service through a particularly difficult stretch of coastline.

The line connects communities including Benidorm, Altea, Calpe, Benissa, Teulada, Gata de Gorgos and Dénia, making it an important transport corridor for both residents and tourism.

The FOPA judges also recognised the wider significance of investment in infrastructure, with the award putting the spotlight on a project designed not simply to improve the railway, but to strengthen connections between communities across the northern Alicante coast.

The official FOPA awards ceremony will take place on October 20 at the ADDA provincial auditorium in Alicante.