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The undersigning organisations have expressed concern over the announcement by the Island Council of Menorca of its intention to complete the overpass currently under construction next to the prehistoric navetes of Rafal Rubí, on the road between Maó and Alaior.
We express this concern because, during the process of applying for Menorca Talaiòtica’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the international organisation explicitly requested that archaeological monuments be presented along with their surrounding landscape and as part of heritage interest zones.
With the inscription of Menorca Talaiòtica on the World Heritage list, the unfinished works at Rafal Rubí are now located entirely within one of the areas recognised as valuable by UNESCO. In fact, in the final resolution—following assessments, expert opinions, and on-site visits—the World Heritage Centre called for the dismantling of the structures as soon as possible.
We are surprised that the push to complete the overpass is being presented as a technical matter. All the opinions requesting its demolition were also technical. Furthermore, road works and projects are being carried out across Menorca that adopt alternative, less visually impactful solutions than double-level roundabouts.
Between Ferreries and Ciutadella, on the same main road and in a section that sees even more traffic during the summer, the same engineers proposed single-level turnarounds—such as those at the entrances to Alocs, the quarry truck access points, or the access road to the naveta des Tudons (which is often Menorca’s most visited monument, both by tourists and coaches).
Even more recently, the current governing team at the Island Council processed the upgrade of the road section from Maó to Alaior up to Alcaidusset. At the junction with the airport road—one of the island’s busiest intersections—a surface-level roundabout has been proposed. Further along, a side loop for turning around is included. This makes it clear that other technical options are available.
By contrast, the Rafal Rubí and Alcaidús junctions see very low traffic volumes. They do not justify the construction of a large double-level structure like the one proposed. When it is known that this project clashes with archaeological monuments located just tens of metres away, and that the entire site falls within a special archaeological interest area, it is more important than ever to demand less impactful solutions.
Some of the undersigned organisations wrote to the Island Council last September, requesting that the project be discussed at the Social Council of the Menorca Talaiòtica Agency, which was designed as the forum for citizen participation. We have received no reply. From a technical standpoint, the statutes (Article 13.8.2) stipulate that the Social Council must be convened every semester. However, it was not convened during the second half of 2024, despite our explicit request.
The Rafal Rubí project—with a double-level roundabout and additional access and exit lanes—is now under public consultation. We will review the documentation and submit formal objections. We believe that road safety can be achieved without damaging the archaeological setting, and we will continue to work to ensure that the World Heritage designation given to Menorca’s archaeological values is upheld with the level of integrity it deserves.
Signed by:
Col·legi Oficial d’Arquitectes de Menorca (Official College of Architects of Menorca).
Secció d’Arqueología del Col·legi Oficial de Doctors i Llicenciats en Filosofia i Lletres de les Illes Balears (Archaeology Section of the Official College of Doctors and Graduates in Philosophy and Letters of the Balearic Islands).
Ateneu de Maó.
Amics del Museu de Menorca (Friends of the Museum of Menorca).
GOB Menorca.
Fòrum d’Entitats del Tercer Sector de Menorca (Forum of Third Sector Organisations of Menorca).
Federació d’Associacions de Vesins de Menorca (Federation of Neighbourhood Associations of Menorca).
Sindicat de Treballadores i Treballadors-Intersindical de les Illes Balears (
Workers’ Union – Intersindical of the Balearic Islands).
