The new jetty, intended for international river routes on the Guadiana River, in Vila Real de Santo António (VRSA), was inaugurated this Friday. The renovated cross-border floating pier maintains the capacity to receive passengers on foot and vehicles and motivated a total investment of around 334 euros.
Maritime minister Ana Paula Vitorino was in VRSA yesterday to preside over the infrastructure inauguration ceremony and left assurances that new investments will soon be made in the city's riverside areas.
For now, the border county has a new land access bridge from a rehabilitated floating pier, «consisting of three continuous floating jetties», placed side by side. These structures are, together, «15 meters long and 9 meters wide», according to Docapesca, the entity responsible for the intervention.
«The mooring and mooring quay floats are the latest technology in the construction of concrete jetties, having been designed for mooring boats of all types. They are quite robust and stable, requiring reduced maintenance», added the public company, responsible for the intervention.
As for the new land access bridge for vehicles and passengers, it is 16 meters long, 3 meters wide and «is sized for the use of vehicles up to 8 tonnes of gross weight».
Minister Ana Paula Vitorino stressed that “140 tourists” pass through this pier every year, which is why this was a commitment to coastal tourism, which constitutes “an aspect of the strategy for the sea”.
"This involves making the infrastructures that support both this coastal tourism and other activities of the Economy of the Sea, such as maritime transport and port operations, more efficient," said the member of Government in statements to journalists, during his stay in Olhão, where he attributed the distinction of “Blue School” to the teaching establishments of the João da Rosa group.
Conceição Cabrita, Mayor of VRSA, also highlighted the touristic aspect of this work, which he considered “essential for the city”, since the cross-border pier “is, par excellence, a gateway into the country”.
“On the other hand, it is an essential investment to consolidate the proximity, both cultural and economic, that we have always maintained with the neighboring city of Ayamonte”, said the mayor.
And if Conceição Cabrita was already happy to see the new wharf inaugurated, she would have liked to hear the guarantees given by the Minister of the Sea, who pledged to launch, this year, tenders for two works in VRSA.
From the outset, the tender for the requalification of the Guadiana River jetty, which was damaged by the storms that hit the region in March. But the intention was also announced to open a new procedure for the requalification of the second pier existing in the riverside area of the city of VRSA, for maritime-tourists.
The Vila Real Council is willing to accompany this renewing wave, with Conceição Cabrita assuring that she wants to move forward with the redevelopment of the northern riverfront of VRSA, «at this moment, the best forms of financing are being found».
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