Work to improve safety in the sa Mola tunnel in Port de Sóller is expected to begin during the first quarter of 2027, with an investment of €7 million. The Consell de Mallorca has approved the final project, which will repair deterioration in the infrastructure and upgrade its facilities to meet current safety requirements.

Sa Mola tunnel improvement works

The sa Mola tunnel in Port de Sóller. Photo: C.I.M.

The tendering process will begin on 31 October 2026. Once the contract has been awarded, the planned completion period will be 15 months, although work will be suspended between 1 June and 30 September to avoid traffic disruption during the peak tourist season. The actual working period will therefore be around 11 months.

Traffic restrictions during work on the sa Mola tunnel

The project will affect the 1,290-metre-long sa Mola tunnel, located on the Ma-11 road and used to connect Sóller with its port. According to the Consell, an average of 4,000 vehicles per day use each lane of the tunnel.

During the work, partial traffic restrictions are expected, and occasional complete closures have not been ruled out. If the tunnel needs to be closed to traffic, vehicles will be diverted along the old access road to Port de Sóller (Ma-11B).

The timetable for these restrictions has not yet been confirmed and will depend on the progress of the work.

What improvements will be made to the sa Mola tunnel?

The project includes repairing cracks and other structural defects, as well as upgrading various installations to comply with current regulations. The main planned improvements are:

  • Structure and road surface: repairing cracks, replacing damaged lining, waterproofing to prevent water infiltration and resurfacing the road.
  • Lighting and ventilation: installing LED lighting, including emergency lighting, and improving ventilation and environmental monitoring systems.
  • Fire prevention: upgrading the fire hydrant network, detection equipment and electronic fire protection systems.
  • Evacuation and emergencies: improving evacuation passages, updating signage and installing new emergency points.
  • Traffic management: replacing outdated traffic lights and variable message signs, and introducing a system that will allow the facilities to be monitored in real time from the control centre.

The project also includes drainage improvements to prevent water accumulation, modifications to a safety barrier to reduce the consequences of potential collisions, and measures to minimise traffic noise near the tunnel entrances.

Through this project, the Consell aims to address the deterioration identified in the infrastructure and modernise its safety and evacuation systems.