Ibiza Town’s first public outdoor escalators have now been installed in the Puig des Molins neighbourhood, marking a major step forward in a project that residents have been waiting years to see completed.

The three escalator sections were installed on Calle Juan Ramón Jiménez, replacing the steep conventional staircase connecting the lower part of the street with Calle Arxiduc Lluís Salvador.

However, the installation does not yet mean the escalators are open to the public. The latest reliable update said final electrical and finishing work was still being completed, followed by the connection and activation of the electrical system and the necessary commissioning before the equipment can enter service.

No official public opening date has been confirmed.

Installation Completed

Ibiza Town Hall confirmed that the physical installation was completed on September 15.

The project involves three outdoor escalator sections covering a steep pedestrian route in Puig des Molins. The new system is designed to make the climb considerably easier for residents and visitors using the connection between the lower and upper parts of the neighbourhood.

The installation is described by the municipality as the first public escalator system in Ibiza Town.

The Escalators Replace a Steep Route

The project addresses a particularly difficult section of Calle Juan Ramón Jiménez.

The route covers approximately 42.18 metres and has a gradient of around 24.4 percent. Previously, pedestrians had to use a conventional staircase divided into several sections.

The new installation is intended to improve accessibility, particularly for older residents and people who have difficulty negotiating the steep climb.

It will also improve pedestrian connections towards the Puig des Molins archaeological museum, the archaeological site and the route towards Figueretes.

Three Sections Designed for Outdoor Use

Each escalator has been designed for permanent outdoor installation.

The project specifications provide for a one-metre clear width and an operating speed of 0.5 metres per second. The three sections have a combined theoretical capacity of up to 6,000 people per hour.

The installation uses materials and components designed for exposure to the elements, including aluminium steps, safety glass balustrades, rubber handrails and stainless-steel elements.

A conventional staircase is also being constructed alongside the escalators as part of the project.

Why They Are Not Open Yet

Although the escalators are now physically installed, several steps remain before they can carry passengers.

The latest detailed report, published on September 17, said the second handrail and remaining electrical cabling were due to be completed.

Once the electrical work is finished, Endesa must activate the electrical connection. The installation then needs to complete the necessary testing and commissioning procedures before entering public service.

That means the presence of the finished escalator structures on the street should not be interpreted as the start of public operation.

As of September 19, no reliable source reviewed for this update has announced a definitive opening date.

Three Security Cameras Will Monitor the Installation

The completed installation will also be monitored by three security cameras.

According to the contractor responsible for the works, the cameras are intended to provide continuous surveillance and help detect incidents or vandalism.

The monitoring system is part of the final installation planned for the new infrastructure.

Traffic Has Already Returned

While pedestrians are still waiting for the escalators to become operational, vehicle access in the surrounding area has already returned to normal.

Calle Arxiduc Lluís Salvador was temporarily affected by the installation works, but traffic was restored on September 16 at the junction with Via Romana.

This means the major disruption associated with the installation itself has now passed, even though the escalators remain in the final preparation stage.

A Project Years in the Making

The escalators are the result of a project that has been discussed in Ibiza Town for years.

The proposal emerged from the city’s citizen participation processes in 2018, following calls for a solution to the steep pedestrian connection in Puig des Molins.

The original project was more extensive, but was subsequently reduced after the cost and technical implications of relocating a medium-voltage electricity line became an issue.

The current project focuses on the section that could be developed without carrying out that major infrastructure relocation.

Almost €1 Million

The works were awarded to Vilor Infraestructuras S.L.

The official awarded contract is €785,785 before VAT, equivalent to €950,799.85 including VAT. The original tender budget was €1,001,372.18 including VAT.

The project is financed through the Balearic Islands’ Sustainable Tourism Tax programme.

A Challenge Beneath the Street

The work has involved considerably more than simply installing escalators.

Before the equipment could be placed, contractors had to deal with existing underground infrastructure, including sewerage, rainwater drainage, drinking water, public lighting, electricity and gas networks.

The excavation also had to be carefully managed because of the surrounding buildings and retaining walls.

The proximity of the Puig des Molins archaeological area added another consideration, with the works carried out with the possibility of archaeological remains in mind.

For the Residents of Puig des Molins

The project has a direct impact on the neighbourhood, where approximately 2,277 people are officially registered.

Residents have spent years using the existing steep staircase, with older people and those with reduced mobility particularly affected by the climb.

Local residents interviewed following the installation described the project as an important improvement and said they were looking forward to finally seeing the escalators operating.

A New Pedestrian Connection for Ibiza

Once operational, the escalators will provide an alternative to the existing staircase and create an easier pedestrian connection through Puig des Molins.

The municipality also expects the project to benefit people visiting cultural and archaeological attractions in the area.

The intervention therefore has both a local accessibility purpose and a wider role in improving pedestrian movement around one of the historic parts of Ibiza Town.

Still Waiting for the Switch-On

The physical installation is now complete, but the project has not yet reached its final stage.

Electrical works, connection, testing and commissioning still stand between the newly installed escalators and their first public journey.

For residents of Puig des Molins who have been waiting years for a solution to the steep climb, the finish line is now considerably closer.

But until the electrical system is activated and the installation is officially commissioned, Ibiza’s first public outdoor escalators remain installed rather than operational.