PS Algarve demanded this week, through its president António Eusébio, "the completion of the national road network" in the Algarve, namely all the works initially foreseen in the concession for the requalification of the EN 125 and which were withdrawn from the agreement in 2012 and the interventions in the IC4 and IC 27, which were canceled.
The completion of these works, he considers, should have the same level of priority as the works identified by the work group for Added Value Infrastructure (IEVA). The two works considered to be a priority by the group of specialists should have "immediate execution".
All in the name of relaunching the regional economy. «In the meetings held over the last few months with the region's living forces, mayors and businessmen, the president of PS-Algarve has felt a great unanimity regarding the need to relaunch the regional economy and create more jobs through the requalification of the tourist offer and the diversification of business activities», illustrated the PS/Algarve, in a press release.
Following the presentation of the IEVA report in Faro, about two weeks ago, António Eusébio stressed that only the improvement of maritime access and facilities in the ports of Portimão and Faro (with an estimated investment of 10 million euros) and the modernization and electrification of the Algarve railway line (55 million), «it is regrettable that they only placed these investments in the second level of priorities and left out the closure of the road network connection to Alentejo (IC4 and IC27, respectively) and the sections initially foreseen in the requalification of EN125, removed when the contract was renegotiated in October 2012».
With regard to investments in the highways, "incomprehensibly far from the priorities indicated", António Eusébio demands "the completion without further delay of the requalification works of the EN 125, under the terms of the contract in force with the concessionaire, and the construction of the variants foreseen in Odiáxere (Lagos), Olhão and Luz de Tavira, in addition to the construction of the alternative to the EN2, between Faro and São Brás de Alportel».
These works “fell” after Estradas de Portugal renegotiated the contract with the concessionaire «Rotas do Algarve Litoral», to lower the values of an agreement that the president of that public company said was very harmful for the public partner of this PPP, but which António Eusébio argues that they were “included in the original contract for imperative reasons of road safety, fluidity of circulation and calming of traffic in the populations crossed”.
The Government should also "reconsider the annulment of the closure of the road network connecting the Alentejo (IC4 and IC27)", arguing that expectations "created by the State for municipalities and entrepreneurs were defrauded and clearly harming two areas of low population density and high tourist potential on the Costa Vicentina and Baixo Guadiana”.
«The completion of the IC 27, between Santa Marta – Alcoutim and Albernoa – Beja, passing through the municipality of Mértola, and of the IC4, between Bensafrim – Lagos and Santiago do Cacém, also serving the municipalities of Aljezur and Odemira, together with the works of requalification of the IC 8 (Sines – Beja – Vila Verde de Ficalho) will make it possible to structure the entire road network in the south of Portugal and make rational use of all the investments already made in studies and projects», defended the PS.
The two works that the IEVA report identified as priorities will also have been identified as fundamental at the meetings held by the PS. But, consider the socialists, the projects to enhance the Port of Cruises of Portimão and Comercial de Faro these were works, but these «must be complemented with investments already planned and with guaranteed financing that boost the economy of the sea, namely in fishing ports and recreational marinas».
On the railway, in addition to the electrification of the rest of the Algarve Line (it is already between Tunis and Faro), António Eusébio considers strategic the conclusion of studies and projects for the railway connection to Spain, «guaranteeing the direct connection from Lisbon to Seville through Faro and Huelva, consolidating an effective service, reinforcing security, allowing better conditions for passengers and goods and promoting a more efficient use of existing and planned logistics centres».
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