The Municipality of Odemira is ready to help the Government finance the works on the EN266 (Luzianes Gare – Porto de Lagos), which connects the municipality to the Algarve. The lack of guarantees from the Government to find a solution before 2018 led the mayor of Odemira to propose a program to share resources, "including financial ones", to solve the problem.
José Alberto Guerreiro revealed that the Chamber proposed “to the Deputy Minister to convey to the Government that we are willing to establish a program for sharing resources, including financial ones, to solve the problem of accessibility in the municipality of Odemira”.
Although the problem extends to other connections, the poor condition of the EN266 floor is one of the biggest concerns: «the EN266, which connects Luzianes Gare to the northern interior of the Algarve, is a fundamental route for the activity of our interior. The populations of Luzianes, São Martinho or Santa Clara use it because they have no other alternative. Added to this, there is the question of the railway and the abandonment to which we were voted, by those who drive, and left us without a regional train».
José Alberto Guerreiro adds that “people were deprived of trains and now also of circulating on the highway, which is in terrible condition. I have already had two meetings with the Secretary of State for Infrastructure [Guilherme W. Oliveira Martins] who says he regrets the situation, but gives me very little hope for 2016, for 2017 they are not certain either, and he points out some paths for 2018».
Now, underlines the mayor, “this is unacceptable, because intervention is urgent. Therefore, we have to make an effort and and we showed availability for a partnership. Better than this, I don't know, one day we will have to go and fill the holes on the national roads».
According to the mayor of Odemir, “those who travel along the EN266 easily find reasons for alarm. It is not possible, on a national road of that importance, to mark “Piso em Bad Estado” and the issue is resolved. We demand responsibilities from those who allowed excessive loads to pass there, which is what happens every day. It is an important road for people and also for economic activity, the EN266 is essential».
José Alberto Guerreiro stresses that “we have to join forces. What the Municipality is saying is that we are available to help solve these problems. I don't know if it ever happened at national level that solidarity went from the bottom up».
In addition to the EN266, there are other national roads in poor condition in the municipality and the municipality's proposal extends to these. «There is also the EN120, between Odemira and São Luís, which connects to the Hospital do Litoral Alentejano and has a dramatic situation, while the EN389, which leaves Cercal, passes through Colos and connects Sines-Algarve, is deplorable. Something has to be done and I hope to find solutions as quickly as possible», concluded José Alberto Guerreiro.
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