After a year of detours and delays, the Ribeira do Vascão Bridge on the EN122 – the vital crossing between Mértola (Alentejo) and Alcoutim (Algarve) – reopened to traffic this Friday, October 3, at 11am.
The 65-metre structure, inaugurated in 1946, underwent extensive rehabilitation in a €2.9 million project to strengthen its durability. Originally scheduled for completion in November 2024, the works dragged on for months due to supply problems with key construction equipment, according to a statement by infrastructure authority Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP).
Traffic is now flowing again, although restrictions remain. During the day, vehicles alternate directions with the help of traffic lights and signage, while nights and weekends allow circulation in both lanes but with speed limits in place until the remaining work is finished.
The closure, in force since October 1, 2024, forced cars and trucks onto lengthy detours along municipal roads in Mértola and Alcoutim, with vehicles over 16 tonnes rerouted via national roads. The prolonged disruption sparked frustration in Mértola, where the council publicly criticised IP for the delays, lamenting the “immense impact” on the local community.
