The works on the EN125 will resume when the sub-concessionaire overcomes financing difficulties. This is, in short, the laconic response that the Government gave to a question posed by the Algarve communist deputy Paulo Sá, about the suspension of the renovation works on that road.
In a letter signed by the Chief of Staff of the Minister of Economy, the Government informs that, “according to information from EP,SA, the completion of the requalification works on the EN 125 and the S. Brás de Alportel link is scheduled for April 2013 , having been suspended for reasons related to the financing of the sub-concessionaire, being resumed as soon as these difficulties have been overcome'.
In a press release, the Parliamentary Group of the PCP stresses that, in view of this response, «once again, the requalification of the EN 125 is postponed. This situation is particularly serious for the Algarve region, as the introduction of tolls on Via do Infante led to a very significant increase in traffic on the EN 125, resulting in long traffic queues and an increase in accidents on this national road. This situation will tend to worsen even more in the summer, when the population of the Algarve more than triples».
The communist deputy Paulo Sá underlines that “the successive delays in the completion of the EN 125 requalification works, as well as the insistence on maintaining the tolls of Via do Infante, reveal a great insensitivity on the part of the Government regarding the serious economic and social problems that devastate the Algarve».
Therefore, he stresses, "once again, the PCP reaffirms the need to immediately abolish tolls on Via do Infante, allowing the full use of this important regional infrastructure, as well as quickly completing the EN 125 rehabilitation works".
The works on the EN125 were suspended by the sub-concession company last March 23, as was the Sul Informação revealed first hand.
The works, which were ongoing with the construction of the Variant of Faro, the Lagos bypass, the Praia da Luz junction and the redevelopment of the section between Lagos and Vila do Bispo, with the construction of several roundabouts, as well as the S. Lourenço/Troto bypass and the EN395 bypass between Guia and Albufeira , were already advancing at a very slow pace in the weeks before the suspension.
In response to a request for clarification from the Sul Informação, the Rotas do Algarve Litoral concessionaire, of the Rotas Regionales Road Group, said, on March 23, that the «Algarve sub-concessionaire is trying to overcome the problems raised by the financing banks, related to the successive drops in the ratings of the banks».
Apparently, and according to the Government's response, "the problems raised by the financing banks" have not yet been overcome by the sub-concessionaire.
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