ALBUFEIRA CÂMARA announced recently that the works in the centre of the old town will continue until mid-June, despite large numbers of tourists arriving during that time to enjoy the Algarve summer. Retailers and hoteliers are worried about the “total chaos” that is apparent in the busiest streets of the city.
At the moment, the back of the old town remains impassable, with works all over the Praça dos Pescadores, passing through the Largo Eng. Duarte Pacheco and stretching until the Avenida da Liberdade.
Despite the visible delays, João Paulo Sebastião, administrative director of Sociedade Polis, the entity responsible for the works, is confident that, “by the end of next week, the work on the Avenida da Liberdade will be finished”, with Largo Eng. Duarte Pacheco ready “by June 14 at the latest”. The first phase of the Avenida 25 de Abril, another major road that is receiving improvements, will be finished “at the end of the month”.
The people mainly affected by the delayed works are retailers and hotel owners, who are losing trade with their busiest time of year approaching fast. According to a hotel manager working in the area, “clients make bookings, but leave as soon as they see the state of the town”, furthering that, at times, it’s impossible to reach the hotel door.
Albufeira Câmara President, Desidério Silva, has received numerous complaints from the town’s population. He said that he is “concerned” and has been monitoring the situation, already noticing “major visible improvements”.
