The PS/Algarve considers that «the Algarve region is penalized twice, now in addition to the payment of tolls on Via do Infante, the elimination of construction contracts for the variants provided for in Odiáxere (Lagos), Olhão and Luz de Tavira, in addition to of the construction of the alternative to National Road No. 2, between Faro and São Brás de Alportel».
The Algarve socialists recalled, in a statement, that “the Government announced, on the eve of a public holiday and through Estradas de Portugal, that it had agreed with the company Rotas do Algarve Litoral, the entity that currently manages the national road 125, the review of the expense and investment clauses provided for under that sub-concession».
«Emphasizing the alleged financial savings resulting from this irresponsible renegotiation, the Government makes a clean sweep of the commitments assumed with the Algarve on the total Requalification of National Road 125, presented by the former Prime Minister on March 16, 2008 as the first strategic intervention of full requalification of a national road», adds the PS/Algarve.
The Socialists add that the variants and the alternative to the EN2 were included "in the previous contract for imperative reasons of road safety, fluidity of circulation and calming of traffic in the populations crossed".
They also emphasize that they are «places where car traffic and crossing times have increased exponentially in recent months, due to the imposition of tolls on Via do Infante, contributing to the reduction of productivity of companies and to a significant increase in road accidents».
«Worse, the reasons for the cancellation of four strategic interventions in councils run by socialist mayors remain to be explained, after years of exemplary collaboration between the Municipalities, Estradas de Portugal and Rotas do Algarve Litoral to find the best solutions and high public investments in the preparation of studies and projects necessary for its implementation», stresses the PS/Algarve in its communiqué..
The socialists say that “a number of doubts and uncertainties continue to hang in the air about the remaining specific interventions planned along the route of Estrada Nacional 125, namely in the crossing of densely populated areas, aimed at eliminating black spots and the improvement of safety conditions, both for motorists and for the population».
On the other hand, “huge financial savings are pointed out in the return to the intervention sphere of Estradas de Portugal of a set of roads that had been part of the sub-concession for the purposes of conservation and maintenance, totaling around 93 kilometres. Knowing the current state of the roads under its supervision and the limitations of public bodies for carrying out small urgent interventions, allows us to question whether it is acceptable to make financial savings at any cost?!”
PS/Algarve adds that, “as underlined by a regional political personality on December 8, 2011, “the vital interests of the region were not taken into account” by this Government, further reinforcing the need for "look redoubled at the evolution of accident rates, traffic flow, the impact on economic activity and the degree of execution of the renovation works on Estrada Nacional 125", now redefined in a minimalist version after that "sad day" for the Algarve».
Even so, «there are still those who consider this “great news for the Algarve” and that, after the introduction of tolls on Via do Infante, another contribution from this Government to reduce accidents on Estrada Nacional 125 and to increase quality is registered. of life of the Algarvians», end the socialists, alluding to the public position of Luís Gomes, president of PSD/Algarve.
Comments