By ELOISE WALTON [email protected]
Residents and traders in and around the popular business hot spot of Almancil are up in arms over the road works in the town, describing it as a war zone with dangerous driving conditions that seem to have no end in sight.
Agnieszka de Oliveira, a German resident of Vale do Lobo, told the Algarve Resident: “The road works are dramatic. Almancil looks as though it has been struck by war.
“I have to drive through Almancil everyday to get to work and the state of the roads is causing huge problems to car tyres, suspensions and bodywork.”
British homeowner Bill Taylor said: “My wife and I have just returned to Portugal after three months away and we are astonished at the state of the roads around the Almancil area.
“What we cannot understand is how the contractors have been allowed to leave their work in such a state. Surely, the Almancil businesses are being badly affected by this shambles.”
According to Linda Taylor Gonçalves from the Griffin bookshop in Almancil, the road works have caused a huge amount of disruption to local residents and businesses.
“Access to my shop has been restricted many times and the way in which the holes are filled in means that cars have to drive at 2kph not to be damaged,” she said, adding that in her opinion the project has been badly managed and inconsiderate towards businesses.
Business owners and residents are looking forward to the end of the road works, however no one is sure of when this will be.
“The road works have affected my business very badly,” said Pia Cross, owner of Guys and Dolls, who has experienced road works outside the front of her shop for several months.
In a statement sent last month, Loulé Câmara announced that the Almancil works were due to last until the middle of May.
According to the statement, due to the remodelling of the water and sewage network along Rua da República and Avenida 5 de Outubro, road closures and traffic problems were due to take place between January 19 and May 18.
The first phase of the works was due to take place between January 19 and February 18 along Praça Dr Francisco Sá Carneiro, followed by a second phase along Rua do Vale Formoso between February 19 and March 19.
Between March 20 and April 18, traffic will be altered due to works along Avenida 5 de Outubro, while during the final phase, between April 19 and May 18, traffic will be blocked along Rua M. dos Santos Vaquinhas.
A spokesman from Loulé Câmara’s sanitation department told the Algarve Resident on Wednesday: “Because of the heavy rains that have fallen since the start of December, work to increase and remodel the water and sewage system along Rua da República and Avenida 5 de Outubro is now expected to be completed by July 2.
“Loulé Câmara apologises for the inconvenience caused to road users and asks for their patience while works are undertaken.”
