Orihuela City Council has awarded a contract for a free shuttle van linking Campoamor with Barranco Rubio beach for the remainder of August and the first 15 days of September. The service will cover the route between Calderón de la Barca Street and Lope de Vega Street, a distance of just over 350 metres with a significant slope. It will operate from 10am to 3pm, making 16 journeys each day.

The contract is valued at €25,198, although the final payment will be reduced to reflect journeys scheduled for July and August that were not provided. The successful bid was the most expensive, but offered a zero-emission vehicle.

The van is being introduced because a municipal lift, installed within a private building, has been out of service for more than four years. Although repair funding was prepared in 2024, the owners’ association has requested an agreement with the council concerning the use of its communal space. No agreement has yet been made public.

Barranco Rubio beach has adapted bathing facilities and services for people with disabilities, but the council has acknowledged continuing difficulties in reaching the beach. The shuttle service was also provided along the same route in 2024.