The project involves an investment of more than 7.2 million euros and aims to provide more space for pedestrians, add green areas and improve accessibility. As work progresses on the road, Zaragoza City Council is also maintaining support measures for businesses affected by the construction.
WORK ON ZARAGOZA’S COSO IS ADVANCING AT A GOOD PACE
After most of the planned work in San Miguel Square was completed, although some minor tasks may still remain, the project is now focused on the section between Coso Bajo and the Principal Theatre. Heavy machinery is already working in this area to prepare the ground on which the new road will be built.
After most of the work in San Miguel Square was completed, the project is now focused on the section between Coso Bajo and the Principal Theatre
Before reaching this stage, workers completed the installation of the main underground pipelines, while the smaller conduits are 70% complete. Some work related to street lighting and water connections to buildings remains and will be carried out over the coming weeks.
The work is now focused on subgrade excavation, an operation that involves removing the old pavement and digging down to the depth required to install the new layers of the street. Depending on the needs of each area, the excavation ranges from 40 centimetres to more than one metre.
Once the asphalt and concrete have been removed, the ground is levelled and compacted to prepare the base on which the new pavement will rest. This structure, made of durable materials, will reduce the risk of subsidence and deformation and help ensure that the road and pavements are at a uniform height, without uneven sections.
A REDEVELOPMENT OF MORE THAN 15,700 SQUARE METRES TO TRANSFORM THE COSO AND SAN MIGUEL SQUARE
The redevelopment of the Coso and San Miguel Square will involve a municipal investment of 7,208,790.38 euros and is being carried out by Copha. The project covers more than 15,700 square metres and seeks to renew this urban axis linking Paseo de la Independencia with the Huerva River, extending the design of this part of central Zaragoza to Paseo de La Mina.
Trees and linear planters will be installed along the Coso
One of the main changes will affect the layout of the road space. The Coso will have two central traffic lanes, one in each direction, a configuration that will allow the pavements to be widened and more space to be reserved for pedestrians. The project will also retain the existing cycle lane.
The layout of the road in San Miguel Square is also being modified. It will be shifted off-centre to make better use of the space on the western side, next to the church. This reorganisation will provide more room for other uses and improve conditions at this city meeting point.
The project also includes new green areas. Trees and linear planters will be installed along the Coso, while San Miguel Square will have more space for new shrubs, flowering plants and trees, in addition to retaining the existing specimens. The work will be completed with street furniture, including benches, fountains and bins, to facilitate rest and create more pleasant spaces for residents to spend time and meet.
HOW TO FOLLOW COSO WORK UPDATES FROM YOUR MOBILE
Residents and business owners who want to follow the progress of the work can do so through the WhatsApp broadcast channel launched by Zaragoza City Council under the name “Reforma Coso – Plaza San Miguel”. The service, which already has more than 1,000 subscribers, provides free updates on the project.
To access it, users simply need to open the WhatsApp channel for the Coso and San Miguel Square redevelopment on their mobile phone and follow it. It is also possible to access the channel using the QR code available on the municipal website, which can be scanned with the device’s camera.
The disruption caused by the work to businesses in the area is being offset
AID AND TAX BREAKS FOR BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY COSO WORK
The disruption that the work may cause to businesses in the area is being partly offset by financial support measures introduced by Zaragoza City Council. These include a municipal grant of 400 euros per month for certain establishments that can prove a loss of turnover and justify expenses in the same amount.
To qualify for this aid, businesses must demonstrate a reduction of at least 400 euros in monthly turnover compared with the same period of the previous year, in any of the four quarters of the current financial year, and justify expenses for an equivalent amount. Applications are calculated and submitted once each quarter has ended.
The call is open to individuals and micro-enterprises with establishments located on the ground floor and with direct access from the street. In addition, the work must cause access difficulties or a loss of visibility, and the business must have been operating before the project began and remain open while it is being carried out. Excluded activities include banks, hotels, consultancy firms, essential-service providers and businesses that are not located at street level.
Work updates can be followed through the WhatsApp broadcast channel “Reforma Coso – Plaza San Miguel”
These grants are supplemented by the tax breaks included in the Investment Attraction Tax Plan, which has been in place since 2022. In the case of property tax (IBI), the discount depends on how long the work affecting the property lasts. The reduction will be 25% when the work lasts up to three months, 50% if it lasts between three and six months, and 75% when the impact extends from six to nine months. For projects lasting more than nine months, the discount may reach 95%.
When the premises are rented and the business is operated by someone other than the owner, the owner must have granted the business a rent reduction or equivalent compensation equal to the amount of the tax discount.
Meanwhile, the business activity tax (IAE) provides exemptions for premises affected by public road works lasting more than three months. The reduction is 10% if the work lasts between three and six months, 15% when it lasts between six and twelve months, and 25% if it exceeds one year.
