The two half-slope collectors to reduce the risk of flooding in Albufeira are to “move ahead”, but the tunnel that will divert the stream from Baixa to the city will have to wait for co-financing opportunities.
The guarantee was given to the Sul Informação by José Carlos Rolo, Mayor of Albufeira, on the sidelines of a session to present the Flood Risk Management Plans (PGRI) for the Guadiana and Ribeiras do Algarve Hydrographic Regions, which took place this Monday, the 10th, in the City Hall.
In terms of Ribeiras do Algarve, the one that concerns Albufeira, two of the planned works are also part of the Albufeira Drainage Plan, created in 2016, following the destructive floods that occurred on November 1, 2015, in downtown Lisbon.
However, this municipal plan has begun to be implemented and has even borne fruit.
«The work to mitigate the floods near the Inatel has already been carried out, as well as the construction of the lifting station at Largo dos Pescadores. There are now two works missing which, in my opinion, are a priority», revealed the mayor of Albufeira.
The one “which is much more powerful, much stronger” is that of the tunnel, which, despite its importance, “can only advance with a strong contribution”.
“This is a work that we cannot do alone, without almost total or even total support” from national funds or the European Union, he said.
The most recent estimate points to a cost of 27 million euros, a figure that “will be merely indicative. Perhaps, with current prices, we are already talking about a cost of 30 or so or even 40 million».
“It will have to be with funding. Getting money from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) will be very complicated, because I don't know if it would be possible to finish the work by 2026, as they advocate. I think we will have to wait for Portugal 2030”, said José Carlos Rolo.
As for the construction of the two mid-slope collectors, «one on the east side, the other on the west side», it is a «priority» work.
“We are trying to get a loan to ensure the part that will not be reimbursed by the environmental fund and by European funds or, possibly, the PRR”, said the mayor of Albufeira.
What is certain is that, in José Carlos Rolo's view, the work «is to go ahead now, especially because works in this area of Albufeira are always very complicated, because of the summer. We have to plan very well, so as not to harm the local economy”.
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