The ceremony will take place on April 23 at the Bena Vista footbridge near El Paraíso, a location that has become an essential crossing point for both locals and tourists. The initiative arose in the 1980s, when the woman, then a manager for a British travel firm, became aware of the dangers of the coastal road between Malaga and Estepona, known for its high accident rate.
In 1984, during a visit, the situation on the road, considered one of Europe's deadliest stretches, deeply impacted her. During the same period, the founder of the travel company was developing the Bena Vista commercial center, which spanned both sides of the road. Faced with the lack of safety, the manager threatened to resign unless a pedestrian footbridge was built.
After failing to secure support or funding from the authorities, the company founder decided to privately finance the project. The bridge was built in just six months and, more than four decades later, it remains a vital crossing credited with preventing countless accidents.
“"Her intervention was crucial in saving lives on an extremely dangerous stretch of road."
Meanwhile, local residents continue her legacy by campaigning for improvements to the bridge, such as the installation of accessibility ramps for disabled users and strollers. They have already raised 16,000 euros to fund these necessary restorations.
