Andorra Awards €78k Direct Contract to Fix Leaks in Plaça Vinyes Planters

**Andorra la Vella has awarded a direct contract worth 78,843 euros to Sideco to waterproof the planters in Plaça Vinyes, addressing water leaks into the underground Vinyes car park below.**

The works, already underway, carry a four-week execution period and are expected to finish in June. They target leaks affecting the car park, particularly four small ones that appear during rain episodes. Technicians will lift the planters in the affected area—formerly home to the old ones—and apply full waterproofing.

Cònsol Major Sergi González stated the intervention was not part of the original project because no leaks were evident at the time, and experts deemed it unnecessary. The comú is now covering the full cost as an unforeseen measure, following technical assessments and controls. González emphasised that professionals, including a supervisory firm, guided the initial works.

He acknowledged the car park owners' frustration, noting several discussions to apologise and offer support, while committing all available resources, energy, and budget to resolve the issue permanently. No legal action has been initiated by the comú, though Vinyes Patrimonial, the car park's owner and operator, has filed a lawsuit against the comú for material damages after an administrative claim was rejected.

Recent floods stemmed from a blocked grate in the square, caused by a displaced filter element that hindered drainage. Technical studies on Plaça Vinyes and Plaça del Poble also identified minor leaks near the Prat de la Creu planters.

Opposition councillor David Astrié criticised the expenditure, claiming the minority had warned of execution flaws late last year, including early signs of issues. He recalled urging thorough checks before completion and budget increases for waterproofing, accusing the majority of downplaying problems—described as "four drops every 40 minutes"—which worsened with recent rains. Astrié highlighted prior overruns and parallel awards pushing total costs 600,000 to 700,000 euros above the initial bid, and noted leaks also reaching the Congress Centre under Plaça del Poble. He described the new work as a forced parallel investment after exhausting the original contract's 19.8% legal extension.

González also updated on the Espai Capital project, confirming the preliminary design nears completion for mid-June presentation. Parallel efforts explore a fairground space concession for joint final development, with talks resuming soon with the Government and Andorra Turisme to secure funding via a convention in coming weeks.