The mayors of the municipalities of Lagos, Aljezur and Vila do Bispo, respectively, Júlio Barroso, José Amarelinho and Adelino Soares, and other members of the Intermunicipal Assembly of Terras do Infante, approved on Monday a motion of "protest and repudiation" against the suspension of works on the EN125 and the impasse in the remaining accessibilities to the Vincentian triangle (EN120 and IC4).
The Association of Municipalities Terras do Infante (Aljezur, Lagos and Vila do Bispo), endorsing the position already made public by the Câmara de Lagos, thus expressed “its concern and repudiation for the suspension of work the requalification of the EN 125 in the Algarve, taking place in the area of the municipalities of Lagos and Vila do Bispo, which increases the difficulties of accessibility to the three most southwestern municipalities of Continental Europe, especially to the approximately 1,5 million tourists who travel to these territories and visit Cabo de S. Vicente».
The Association of Municipalities draws attention to «the danger and discomfort for citizens, tourists and all motorists that constitutes the fact that the roundabout at the intersection of Quatro Estradas/Lagos, providing access to Vila da Luz and the municipality of Vila do Bispo, not having been completed, having been poorly signposted, with obstacles and contradictory signs in the circulation space».
On the other hand, the ring road in Lagos, which will connect Via do Infante to the aforementioned roundabout and to the roundabout at Fonte Coberta, and which is, therefore, a main and structuring road for access to Lagos, Praia and the parish of Luz and the municipality of Vila do Bispo, «promised to open in spring, with this suspension, its entry into service in summer is put in check».
The Terras do Infante Association also recalls, in its motion, that «the works of the various roundabouts planned for the route of the EN125 in both counties, in places of great traffic conflict, which, in the summer, will again cause major problems, have been halted. traffic delays'.
Furthermore, «some, of great danger and effective accidents, such as the access to Chinicato/Lagos, at the intersection of Burgau and Raposeira (both in Vila do Bispo), have not even started, so this stoppage of the process it still worries more residents and mayors about its effective implementation».
In addition, the three municipalities demand “the immediate continuation of the process of implementing the Odiáxere/Lagos bypass, since the environmental impact statement has already been approved”.
All delays in implementing this alternative road axis to the current route of the EN 125, which crosses the town of Odiáxere, "will continue to cause chaos in that town", the motion adds.
«With the entry into force of the Via do Infante tolls (a situation that should only occur after the EN125 has been re-qualified!), Odiáxere once again registered large traffic queues, situations of permanent danger, loss of quality of life and tranquility of its inhabitants , and summer hasn't arrived yet».
On the other hand, on the EN 120, which connects Aljezur/Lagos, at kilometer 160, the renovation of the Pontão, next to the access to Pincho, continues to be carried out. "This is a situation that has been dragging on for more than three years, an unacceptable fact that has only contributed to thickening the already bleak statistics of accidents, most of which are very serious."
As for the infamous IC4 and Aljezur Variant, «the current Government is referring to a “sepulchral silence”, revealing a perfect bewilderment regarding the priorities and solutions in terms of accessibility in this area of the territory that has been permanently disregarded in this matter, between many others», considers the motion.
«The “Terras do Infante”, throughout time, suffered enormous damage in its development and valorization due to the distance relative to the main roads and means of transport, suffered more with the eleven-year delay in the arrival of Via do Infante. They once again suffer from the penalty resulting from the introduction of tolls before the promised requalification of the EN125, and the southwest Algarve, given its location, is the one that, once again, suffers the consequences of such an unfair measure, which is proven by statistics of unemployment and hotel occupancy», adds the Intermunicipal Assembly of Terras do Infante.
For this reason, he also underlines, "this suspension of work is yet another injustice practiced in this region, further isolating the municipalities of Terras do Infante, with high economic and social losses and difficult compensation."
«Regrettable is also the “pushing game” between the various protagonists, including the Government itself, when, being a work in progress, of unquestionable need, all those responsible, at all levels, should join forces to avoid these upheavals and waste that, in the end, we will all have to pay for», concludes the motion approved yesterday.
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