A large tunnel that will serve to divert the flow of the Albufeira stream from downtown towards the sea is the largest project and the one with the highest priority in the Albufeira Drainage Plan, which was presented today. This infrastructure, which should be ready within two years, and which aims to prevent flood situations such as 1 November 2015 if repeated, it will cost around 15 million euros.
Second Jose Saldanha Matos, full professor at Instituto Superior Técnico, who developed this plan, if the tunnel is built, in a situation of intense rain like the one that occurred a year ago, «there is no damage to that area [of Albufeira downtown]».
For the specialist, this tunnel "has to be done immediately" and is part of a set of interventions considered to be a priority such as "half slope collectors, a pumping station on Rua Cândido dos Reis, because the downtown area will always have some problems . This is solved “Dutch style”, which has half the territory below the sea water line, and does not have major problems with floods. Here it has to be the same thing, with a pump-like system that reacts immediately and allows you to remove the water that accumulates. We are not eliminating the cause, we are eliminating the effects».
This set of priority interventions represents, according to Saldanha Matos, «almost two thirds of the investment, and should be carried out within the next five years. It's a very important investment to safeguard and protect people,” he explains.
Among the various suggestions for works that were presented are, for example, the creation of a “mini-tunnel” in the Praia do Inatel area, which will also discharge rainwater directly into the sea, to avoid problems in that area.
However, the planning of the remaining interventions will depend on several factors, as explained by Saldanha Matos. “There are short-term measures, which are disseminated throughout the territory and which are for the period 2017-2020. Then there are other long-term works, 2020-2030, which are measured over the next 15 years. The most urgent and priority ones, which bring the greatest benefit in relation to the cost, are those that advance first, the others are relegated, and if necessary, it is done, if it is not necessary, it is not done».
Also Carlos Silva e Sousa, mayor of Albufeira, defined two phases for the application of the Albufeira Drainage Plan. After the construction of the great tunnel, «with values in the order of 15 million euros, there will be a series of complementary works, for the collection of rainwater, which will consist in the use of old infrastructures, namely the existing tunnel».
According to the mayor, "the first phase will not bother the city, it's all under the ground, but the second phase involves surface works, which will create inconvenience and, therefore, will be done gradually."
According to Saldanha Matos, the implementation of the Albufeira Drainage Plan on the ground could cost "between 30 and 40 million euros", noting, however, that "they are investments for 100 years".
A value that may have to come out of the Municipality's coffers entirely, because Carlos Silva e Sousa guarantees that he will not wait for support that may not arrive. “We are counting on our finances. We're not going to count on something we don't know if it's going to happen or not. I am talking about both Portuguese State funds and European funds. We will try to get it sent to Albufeira, as much as we can, to sacrifice local finances as little as possible. But we will not wait for anyone to start the work. We have the money to start the work and complete it if necessary. We do not want, nor do we want it, it would even be unfair, but it will not be the question of finances that will prevent us from starting the work and carrying it out to the end».
Carlos Silva e Sousa wants the tunnel work to be completed as soon as possible and points to two years for completion. However, “I cannot set exact deadlines. I am dependent on the completion of the project, and the competition. My desire is to start tomorrow, but I'm dependent on the technical part and public procurement», he concluded.
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