The temporary bridge across the river Gilão in Tavira is to be replaced, with work starting this autumn.
The current military bridge, a 'temporary measure,' was installed 27-years ago.
The tender for a new €1.5 million bridge will be issued in February, unless there are any objections, said Tavira Mayor, Jorge Botelho, in an interview with Sul Informação.
The new 88 metre bridge will be erected in the same place as the current one, will be made of concrete and will include a pedestrian and cycle path, and a lane for traffic.
Botelho said there will be a public presentation by the architect. As for some current opinions that the design is truly uninspiring, Botelho added that "the bridge is more beautiful in reality than in the drawings."
"When you do an engineering project in the center of Tavira, there is never a consensus. There are those who argue that it should be an architect's project on an international scale, others argue that it must be something to blend into the landscape, and some say it should be an exceptional piece of engineering and architecture, a unique piece. However, our idea is that no bridge should distort, or compete with, the Roman bridge," explained the mayor in his interview.
Locals do want the bridge to be replaced as this was included as a local election promise, an election that Botelho won.
Botelho is fully aware that property developers also want a new bridge, "what matters is to connect the two banks to provide sustainable development and investment in both areas. One bank of the Rio Gilão is more developed than the other and investors are waiting for signals from the council to start development on the other side of the river."
Proposed new bridge design
