The socialist group in Soller has accused the Council of Mallorca of a lack of foresight and sensitivity for closing the Soller tunnel between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. until 14 November, a measure that affects many local workers who work early in the morning or late at night. The party has warned in a statement that, with this night-time closure, many residents are forced to use the Coll road over the mountain, with the consequent increase in travel time and driving risks, while the Council of Mallorca has not given ‘clear explanations for the reasons for such a prolonged closure’.
They question why the night-time closure is lasting more than a month, from 6 October to 14 November, when the planned work involves only cleaning and improving the cameras and communications cabling.
The Socialists have asked both the Soller Town Council and the Council of Mallorca for explanations as to the reasons behind these schedules and whether more suitable alternatives, such as the establishment of an alternative route, have been considered ‘before deciding to completely close an infrastructure that is so essential to the municipality’.
The Socialists of Soller insist that the road closure demonstrates ‘a lack of sensitivity towards residents who need the tunnel to get to work’ and regret the consequences for the public. The Coll de Soller is a mountain pass which is extremely popular with cyclists.
It has an altitude of 497 metres (1,600 ft), separating the Plains of Majorca from the Soller Valley. It is crossed by the Ma-11a , the old Soller Road , and is located between the Alfabia and Teix mountain ranges . It was a mandatory stopover point to go to Soller or the port from most points on the island but this is no longer the case since the construction of the Soller tunnel .