The Secretary of State for Transport on a visit to the Algarve to discuss, among other things, the renovations promised for the region's crumbling EN125 ‘alternative to the motorway’ road, said yesterday that Estradas de Portugal is to "submit a plan by the end of the month."
Sérgio Monteiro has never wanted to spend any money at all on the EN 125 and his previous attempt at blackmail, offering a stark choice between rail or road upgrades for the Algarve, endeared him not a bit to the Algarve’s business and resident community.
Now that Monteiro has been instructed by the government to authorise the EN 125 renovation work, suspended since 2011 despite the promised €220 million sweetener when the motorway was tolled, it looks like the timing of the work will neatly coincide with the peak holiday season.
"What was agreed when we closed the renegotiation of the contract is that in July, Estradas de Portugal would present the works programme," said Monteiro, adding that Estradas de Portugal is having a board meeting in July to discuss the Algarve’s needs, hardly an urgent matter ity seems.
The EN 125 work only will cover the road between Olhão and Vila do Bispo, leaving the Spanish border to Olhão section untroubled by yellow diggers and surfacing machines reeking of freshly boiled tar.
According to Monteiro, the management of Estradas de Portugal "wants to discuss with mayors how the work plan is implemented, in the sense of having as low impact on the region as possible during the summer season when there are more tourists on the road.”
When the roadworks finally were announced those mayors whose municipalities were not covered accused Estradas de Portugal of promoting "discrimination" between the eastern and western Algarve.
The resumption of work should also keep Faro’s mayor happy as the much discussed link road to the motorway from the east of town is scheduled to be finished completed.
Monteiro’s promises and pronouncements in the Algarve, the country’s major generator of tourism revenue, always must be treated with a high degree of suspicion.
Whether or not Estradas de Portugal will start work this summer remains to be seen. Many have commented it may be better to let the road be used until the tourists have gone home and start work on the road this autumn.
Either way, three years of nil investment in the EN 125 road system has taken its toll with many sections lacking a safe surface and other parts potholed and crumbling due to years of increased traffic from the Via do Infante motorway.
