Francisco Amaral says he is "highly indignant" at the state of the EN125 between Olhão and Vila Real de Santo António, as it affects the Castro Marim council area which he is in charge of.At the beginning of March, the mayor told the local news service Algarve Primeiro that he was thinking of calling the president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, to ask him to get the roadworks started as the current lack of effort from the government represents “a profound lack of respect for the Algarve, the Portuguese and all those who visit us."
Amaral had doubted the excuses given by the road company and the government that the delay was due to the Court of Auditors.
Everyone now knows that this is a whopping lie as Amaral joined the EN125 users group and the vice president of VRSA this week to meet the Director General of the Court of Auditors. The reason for the delays has been the government and its road company, not the Court of Auditors. (HERE)
Francisco Amaral is now looking at mounting a series of protests, including a slow march between Cacela and Vila Real de Santo António, “I cannot accept that this crucial road in our region is in this sorry state nor can I accept that government has simply forgotten about it.”
Now the truth has been revealed, the Castro Marim mayor said, "I feel deceived, but with the strength to fight. We will not let these roadworks fall into oblivion because it is a shame for all the Portuguese to drive along under these conditions and the road presents a sad visiting card to our tourists.”
Road company, Infraestructuras de Portugal has been adept at delaying the roadworks, employing a list of excuses, culminating in “it’s the Court of Auditors fault.”
Francisco Amaral is now looking at mounting a series of protests, including a slow march between Cacela and Vila Real de Santo António, “I cannot accept that this crucial road in our region is in this sorry state nor can I accept that government has simply forgotten about it.”
Now the truth has been revealed, the Castro Marim mayor said, "I feel deceived, but with the strength to fight. We will not let these roadworks fall into oblivion because it is a shame for all the Portuguese to drive along under these conditions and the road presents a sad visiting card to our tourists.”
Road company, Infraestructuras de Portugal has been adept at delaying the roadworks, employing a list of excuses, culminating in “it’s the Court of Auditors fault.”
Vila Real de Santo António and Castro Marim councils have made formal appeals to government but the roadworks, "are no more than intentions. Summer is at the door and we have a highly degraded road in poor condition ... we no longer believe in the excuses we have been given."
Francisco Amaral reminds readers that "the Minister said that the roadworks would be a reality in 2017,” yet there was no provision for them in the 20918 State Budget.
Francisco Amaral reminds readers that "the Minister said that the roadworks would be a reality in 2017,” yet there was no provision for them in the 20918 State Budget.
Another of the Algarve’s roads that is close to being impassable is the EN124 between Silves and Porto de Lagos.
A Citizens' Group is organising a slow protest march about the road, stating that it has “potholes that affect road safety and cause damage to the vehicles that drive along it."
"We do not understand why this section of this alone does not deserve the attention of Infraestruturas de Portugal.”
The protestors will gather in Silves, at 3 pm on April 14, in the municipal swimming pool car park.
"We do not understand why this section of this alone does not deserve the attention of Infraestruturas de Portugal.”
The protestors will gather in Silves, at 3 pm on April 14, in the municipal swimming pool car park.
Comments
Where a well maintained road, sends out the message that we are open for business.
I am astonished at how minor roads in the north of Portugal are well maintained and yet a National Route in a busy tourist destination of Algarve has been neglected and ignored by Government for so long.
The protest and demonstration by the residents and business communities in East Algarve with Francisco Amaral at the helm, will send a very clear message to Government that when people come together to communicate their feelings about something important to them, it would be a foolish government that would ignore this message. Taking into account that we are approaching an important date in the memory of every Portugeses citizen the 25th April.