Matinsa starts the ecological restoration work on the River Manzanares between the Puente de los Franceses and the Puente de la Reina Victoria (Madrid)
Matinsa started the work for the ecological restoration of the River Manzanares (phase I), promoted by Madrid City Council, in August. The project was awarded in July 2017 for an awareded amount of €628,502.73 and undertaking completion period of 33 months, nine of which are for the works and 24 for maintenance.
This project is a response to the need for the ecological and landscaping improvement of the River Manzanares, arising from the series of proposals in the "Plan for the naturalisation and environmental restoration of the River Manzanares in its passing through the city of Madrid."
With the undertaking of the project, Madrid City Council and Matinsa intend to favour the natural component of an intra-urban river, as far as possible reducing artificial elements and enhancing a local composition of river species. The purpose of the contract is to undertake a series of actions that improve the river ecosystems and the lateral connectivity of the water course with its banks as well as the recovery of the original landscape elements and structures and to provide a backbone role in the city of Madrid to the urban section of the River Manzanares.
The section of the River Manzanares subject to naturalisation by Matinsa is in its central part in the west of the centre of the city of Madrid, in the Casa de Campo district. The section is delimited upstream by the bridge over the river Manzanares connecting the M-30 with the Carretera de Castilla (M-500) and downstream by the Puente de la Reina Victoria. The total length of the section is 1,315 m.
Actions to be undertaken
General cleaning of he banks and water course of the river, clearing of the wasteland plants occupying most of the area of action before providing topsoil on the riprap. Before the earthmoving, it will be necessary to fell and prune various trees occupying these areas.
Clearing of riprap
The artificial filling behind the water course will then be cleared from that level to its current crown. The replanting has been designed with small and medium size herbaceous and woody plants.
When these actions have been completed, a guard rail will be installed along the entire area of action for safety reasons to prevent falls and to delimit the bank itself from the adjacent pedestrian and public leisure area, thus clearly separating the urban area from the river area.
The existing jetty will also be demolished and the existing fishing posts will be removed. A screening grille will also be installed at the outlet of the San Bernardino I storm water tank to improve maintenance and cleaning work and to stop residues from reaching the river.