Marbella's restored Arch finally revealed

After 12 months of being covered in safety netting, Marbella's iconic archway has finally been revealed totally restored. Now boasting a new metal framework and facade plaques, the arch at the entrance to Marbella will no longer be shedding tiles on unsuspecting motorists hurtling along the A7 motorway.

Following many years of erosion, the arch was inspected by Marbella town council, who discovered that the metal structure and outer facade had deteriorated to such an extent, the arch posed a danger to motorists' safety. At the close of 2013 the local fire brigade had to be called out at least twice when falling tiles were reported by anxious drivers. After the council's inspection safety netting was installed to prevent further problems with falling debris.

It took months to complete the renovation project. The renovation works were carried out by a specialist company, Gestión de Proyectos y Obras del Sur, costing Marbella town council ca. 100,000 euros. After removing all damaged tiles, the company reinforced the metal superstructure and installed a secondary framework. New tiles were affixed to the outside and new as well as old portions were made safe.

A Marbella Icon restored to its former Glory

Many televised news reports about Marbella and the Costa del Sol start and end with the iconic archway. For some time the total removal of the arch had been under discussion - this is what occurred in San Pedro in 2010, when a similar problem afflicted the town's twin arch.

Originally commissioned by Marbella's mayor Jesús Gil during the municipal election programme of 1991, the arch was as part of "Programa GIL", which was responsible for a number of building projects along the Costa del Sol. The arch's function is to welcome locals and visitors alike, when they arrive in Marbella via the A-7 motorway, the most popular route from Malaga Airport to the resorts of the western Costa del Sol.

Twin Arches and twin Motorway Trouble

The A-7 is the toll-free motorway that links all the coastal municipalities and, as holiday home owners living in Marbella for part of the year know to their cost, the A-7 is incredibly busy at any time of the day. Parts of it were once the old national road and some sections still have only two lanes and narrow bends that force motorists to slow down to 80 km/h.

Multiple exits to new housing developments, or urbanisations, mean that drivers are suddenly forced to break after only a very short or practically non-existent acceleration lane or they'll miss their exit or worse, they drive into the back of the car in front.

By contrast, the AP-7 is a toll road that stretches for 105 km across the Malaga Province, running almost parallel with the older A-7 route. The AP-7 toll road covers two different sections, the Malaga to Estepona section and the Estepona to Guardiaro section.

There is little difference in the time it takes to reach Marbella, after leaving Malaga Airport, no matter which motorway one chooses. The AP-7 is the more enjoyable drive, but has the drawback of making motorists pay a toll fee.

Rates can vary considerably, particularly during the incredibly busy summer months and at Easter, when the A-7 motorway clogs up with rental cars, mobile homes, lorries and caravans. Special rates can be nearly double the standard rate, which about 4.50 euros from Malaga Airport to Marbella.

Holiday home owners returning to their apartment or villa in Marbella this Easter will be delighted to see the old arch restored to its former glory. Passing under the arch symbolises a total change in lifestyle for the Brits who travel this route - as Marbella's manifold delights beckon with this gleaming white arch, holidaymakers stop fretting about rain in Essex, Kent or London for a while.