An underwater inspection of Portimão’s ‘Ponte Velha’ bridge has concluded that the structure is in “good condition”, according to national road authority Estradas de Portugal (EP).
The 139-year-old bridge, which connects the Portimão and Lagoa margins of the Arade River, was closed off between 2007 and 2009 as “it faced the risk of collapse”.
The ensuing traffic chaos caused saw it reopen temporarily during the summer of 2008, and it finally reopened for good after major shoring-up work in July 2009.
Since then the bridge has aged well and is safe, according to EP’s latest inspection.
The crossing was built in 1875 by French industrial group Compagnie de Fives-Lille and is considered to be a “valuable and economically-relevant heritage of the Algarve”.
