Escobet River Hydraulic Project in Sant Julià de Lòria Severely Delayed

Work on hydraulic improvements along the Escobet river in Sant Julià de Lòria remains significantly delayed, well beyond the original deadline.

The project, designed to prevent future flash floods, was supposed to be completed last September but substantial tasks are still outstanding. Awarded by the Andorran government on 25 September 2024 for €2,357,814.56 with an 11-month execution period, the works have fallen far short of that timeline.

The initiative stems from severe flooding in July 2015, when intense storms turned the start of the Rabassa road into a riverbed and unleashed powerful debris flows from the Auvinyà river onto the Peguera road. Debris piled up on the carriageway, blocking access to Naturland and the CS-131 road for days. Motorists could only reach the area via the CS-130 through Juberri.

A subsequent basin study of the Escobet and Llumeneres rivers, up to their confluence with the Gran Valira below Plaça Laurèdia, pinpointed vulnerabilities. A critical bottleneck is the bridge at the Costa de Nagol urbanisation, which currently offers just 10.91 square metres of hydraulic capacity—below the required minimum of 13.3 square metres.

Engineers also flagged risks from sediment buildup, potentially reaching 10,000 cubic metres during heavy rain and obstructing the 12-square-metre section needed for safety. The goal is to limit this to no more than 1,000 cubic metres.

The main elements include building about 160 metres of wall along the river's right bank and raising an embankment to trap sediments, reducing blockages during intense downpours. Officials have not specified a revised completion date.