The Diputación de Córdoba, through its Delegation of Infrastructure, Sustainability and Agriculture, has started the reconstruction of the retaining wall at the municipal sports centre in Rute. This initiative aims to restore functionality and ensure the safety of the municipal sports facilities.
The project is being executed by the local company Construcciones Pavón and is part of an Exceptional Grants Plan initiated by the Diputación to address damage to municipal infrastructures caused by a series of storms during the winter and spring of 2026.
Salvador Fuentes, president of the provincial institution, emphasised the significance of the wall's reconstruction, stating, "The direction of the work was an emergency plan following the flooding caused by the storms earlier this year." He noted that the process was prolonged due to the need for specific geotechnical assessments to determine the wall's safety and its impact on adjacent homes.
Fuentes added, "It was urgent to act not only for the wall, which also supports the sports pitches, but also for the 20-metre conduits involved." He acknowledged that the two-month delay was necessary to adapt to the findings of the geotechnical studies and assess whether additional supports were required.
He expressed confidence in the expertise of the Diputación’s technical team, stating, "We are in very good hands, and I always appreciate their work." The president assured that the works would be completed within two months, restoring normalcy to what he described as a beautiful urban landscape. He highlighted that children would soon have access to a park with a climbing wall and a secure embankment, ensuring the safety of the sports pitches and the building.
David Ruiz, the mayor of Rute, remarked that the wall was an emergency project and thanked the president for intervening, as the municipality could not bear the costs alone. He noted that while there were some unforeseen delays, the works are progressing well and were timed to avoid disrupting access to the municipal swimming pool over the summer.
The intense rainfall in February and March led to the collapse of the reinforced concrete retaining wall supporting the athletics and calisthenics areas of the sports centre, as well as the detachment of another concrete block wall at the western end. These damages also affected various urban elements, including the sewage network, fencing, and street furniture, necessitating intervention to restore safety and functionality.
The initial phase of the project involves constructing a new reinforced concrete retaining wall approximately 20 metres long and eight metres high to secure the platform housing the sports facilities. The second phase focuses on renewing the sewage and drainage conduits from the upper area of the sports facilities to the western limit of the park. Additionally, the project includes building a riprap wall at the western edge of the park to stabilise the existing slope.
The works began on 17 September and are scheduled for an initial duration of four months, with current progress at 35%. The project’s design and oversight are managed by the Provincial Civil Engineering Service of the Diputación de Córdoba, while the execution is carried out by Construcciones Pavón.
