On Monday major Juan Mari Aburto and several councillors met at Frank Gehry bridge. Workers opened Deustu canal. They have removed 365,000 cubic metres of water from the canal, linking it with the river Nerbioi and, so, making what had always been a peninsula into an island.

Local people have protested against what Aburto called a "historical year". “This isn’t Manhattan!” and “No more sharks!” were some of their slogans against the Zorrotzaurre project.

The largest got together with locals before the act, and they told him about the numerous problems in connection with access, services and security. They had been waiting for a plan to solve these problems; once it was ready, they realised that it did not take local people into account.

The Uriola video shows the moment in which the largest goes up to the locals:

The neighbours of Deusto and Ribera Alta have concentrated on the opening of the Deusto canal in Bilbao. Mayor Aburto has approached Bilbao to ask him, "Do you mean anything to me?" to ask him. pic.twitter.com/1OSJOAY8wN

— Bilboko Uriola (@uriolaeus) October 8, 2018

The basis for the Zorrotzaurre project

The Zorrotzaurre project has been presented as an "integrated, long-lasting plan for regaining an area which is currently degred." It includes the 840,000 sare metre island which, according to the previsions, will provide "easily obtainable housing", "non-polluting companies", "numerous social and cultural facilities" and "open spaces" for leisure.

Based on the 1995 Bilbao General Town Plan, the project, which is believed will cost 250 million Euros, was passed seven years ago.

This article was translated by 11itzulpenak; you can see the original in Basque here.