At 11am this Friday, 3 October, the Vascão Bridge on the EN122, linking the municipalities of Mértola (Alentejo) and Alcoutim (Algarve), will reopen to traffic, in what both mayors are calling “great news.”
“The wait is over,” said Paulo Paulino, mayor of Alcoutim, and Mário Tomé, mayor of Mértola The rehabilitation works began on 1 October 2024 and were initially expected to be brief. The reopening had first been scheduled for 30 November last year but was repeatedly delayed due to alleged equipment supply problems.
Infraestruturas de Portugal, the state-owned company responsible for the project, later set May 2025 as a target date. In the end, however, the works only reached completion at the end of last month.
The closure brought clear disruption: traffic was diverted onto local roads in the municipalities of Mértola and Alcoutim, forcing drivers through tiny villages such as Giões and São Bartolomeu de Via Glória.
The impact was particularly felt during the summer months. “We saw a drop in visitors, which affected hotels and restaurants,” said both mayors.
While regretting the delays, Mértola’s mayor stressed that “the works had to be carried out.” He added: “We now have a bridge with better safety conditions, and that is what really matters. Our job now is to focus on making the territory more attractive.”
Paulino echoed the sentiment: “The works and the resulting traffic restrictions were a necessary evil.”
Despite the reopening, the rehabilitation is not yet fully complete. Over the coming weeks, finishing touches will continue. During the day, traffic will alternate directions, managed by traffic lights and temporary signage. At night, and on days without ongoing work, both lanes will be open, albeit with reduced speed limits.
First inaugurated in 1946, the Ribeira do Vascão Bridge has now undergone structural reinforcement at a cost of around €2.9 million.
