A new bypass of the EN125 road that links Almancil to the massive Algarve Stadium in Loulé opened to traffic yesterday (June 29).
The 2.7 kilometre bypass cost around €8 million and expects to channel excessive traffic out of Almancil and smaller locations such as Troto and São Lourenço, hopefully reducing the alarming number of road accidents in the area in the process.
“The construction and completion of the bypass is a sign of the government’s clear intention to improve circulation on the EN125,” said Guilherme Martins, Secretary of State for Infrastructures, at the road’s opening ceremony.
“This new road will contribute decisively to people’s travels between Faro and the Barlavento (Western Algarve),” he added.
Jorge Botelho, president of the Algarve municipalities association (AMAL), said the opening of the bypass is definitely “good news”.
“It is a good thing it opened this summer,” he said, adding it will help avoid bottlenecks during the high-season in an already overcrowded section of the EN125.
This is the last bypass to be built as part of the ongoing EN125 renovations taking place between Vila do Bispo and Olhão.
Others concluded recently include the bypasses in Lagos (click here) and Faro (click here).
Olhão-VRSA renovations to start in 2017
Speaking at the bypass’ opening ceremony, the secretary of state also said the long-overdue EN125 renovations between Olhão and Vila Real de Santo António are finally set to begin in 2017.
Martins explained, however, that these will only begin once the renovations between Vila do Bispo and Olhão are completed – which he says should be no later than “the end of 2016”.
AMAL president Jorge Botelho said once again that the news was “positive,” but warned it is overdue.
“The renovations are already way behind schedule,” he said.
“I’ve always said that we can’t have first and second-rate Algarve citizens,” Botelho added, saying the entire EN125 has to be renovated – not just one half of it.
In related news, the secretary of state also said that a €10 million project to carry out improvement work on the International Guadiana Bridge – which links the Algarve to Spain – is expected to be launched soon and will be funded by both countries.
