Tarragona Provincial Council plans to allocate €143,261.58 over the next four years for the maintenance of the Val de Zafán Greenway and the Carrilet de la Cava Greenway in Terres de l'Ebre. The council will also fully assume their tourist promotion, according to a proposed agreement presented on 12 May 2026 by Council President Noemí Llauradó.
The proposal was shared with the town councils of Amposta, Tortosa, Roquetes, and La Ràpita, as well as the Baix Ebre and Terra Alta regional councils. These local and regional bodies are either owners or tenants of the sections through which the tourist route passes. Under the agreement, these local and regional entities will jointly contribute an additional €64,834.32 for maintenance.
The agreement delegates ordinary and extraordinary maintenance tasks to the Tarragona Provincial Council. These tasks include mowing and clearing verges, pruning and managing vegetation, cleaning ditches and drains, collecting waste, repairing and improving the surface, and maintaining and replacing vertical and horizontal signage. It also covers the upkeep and replacement of safety elements such as railings and fences, lighting systems, slopes, and structures, along with repairing damage from extreme weather events. Tourist promotion actions for the greenways will be coordinated with local entities. The overall goal is to guarantee the conservation, safety, operation, and tourist projection of these greenways.
Council Leaders Meet to Finalise Agreement
The meeting, held at the Tarragona Provincial Council Palace, saw several key figures in attendance. Besides President Llauradó, participants included Enric Adell, Second Vice President and President of the Provincial Tourism Board, and Iris Castell, Deputy Delegate for Territorial Infrastructure. Local leaders present were Adam Tomàs, Mayor of Amposta; Mar Lleixà, Mayor of Tortosa; Ivan Garcia, Mayor of Roquetes; and Marc Brunet, Finance Councillor for La Ràpita, representing its mayor. Also attending were Antoni Gilabert, President of the Baix Ebre Regional Council, and Joan Aubanell, President of the Terra Alta Regional Council.
The Provincial Council's involvement in maintaining over 100 km of greenways and promoting this route was first discussed in a meeting last November with municipal and regional representatives. President Noemí Llauradó also highlighted this commitment during the public inauguration of the new 27-kilometre section between Roquetes and La Ràpita on the Val de Zafán Greenway on 18 April. More than 400 hikers and cyclists participated in that event.
Sustainable Tourism in Terres de l'Ebre
The Val de Zafán Greenway supports sustainable tourism development in Terres de l'Ebre, a region recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It integrates smoothly with the natural environment, attracting respectful tourists interested in the area's natural surroundings, heritage, and gastronomy. The greenway also aims to extend the tourist season, being particularly appealing during the mild temperatures of spring and autumn, when visitors can fully enjoy the region's natural richness.
The Val de Zafán Greenway follows the route of an old railway line that was intended to connect Puebla de Híjar in Teruel with La Ràpita. Projected in 1863, construction began in 1882, though it was not inaugurated until 1942. It operated for 31 years but was never fully completed. The line closed permanently on 17 September 1973, eventually being repurposed years later as a route for hiking and cycle tourism, allowing people to enjoy nature.
