By PAULO SILVESTRE [email protected]
Portugal’s government is soon to announce the date when the payment of tolls will start on the A22 – Via do Infante.
Equipment is already in place and covered signs with the costs are already spread along the A22 which links Vila Real de Santo António to Lagos.
Delays in upgrading the EN125, which some do not consider a viable alternative even after improvement works, is making many of the Algarve’s mayors fear a return to “the dark years of accidents on the EN125”.
The mayors told Portuguese news agency Lusa this week that they still maintain their position against the introduction of tolls on this road, although some acknowledged that the process “is irreversible”.
Left-wing politician João Vasconcelos, who set up the Comissão de Utentes da A22 (A22 users’ commission), told the Algarve Resident: “We are just waiting for the final decision from the Government about the date when tolls will start operating. We will then meet to schedule new protests against it.
“We have in mind to do a new walk protest on the EN125, which is no alternative to the A22. If tolls start on the Via do Infante, this will mean more accidents and people dying on the EN125,” he said.
“We are also waiting for a meeting with the Ministry of the Economy to discuss the tolls.”
Meanwhile, a spokesman from Portagens na A22 Não (No Tolls on the A22) movement said: “On Friday (September 2), the PCP political party, which is against the introduction of tolls on the Via do Infante, will discuss the project in Parliament.
“Bearing in mind that the PSD and CDS candidates were against the introduction of tolls in the last elections, we would like to know what their position is on this issue now. Will they meet their election pledges?”
Do you have a view on this story? Please email Editor Inês Lopes at [email protected]
