With this recognition from the government, the project is allowed to build on a section of REN (National Ecological Reserve) land in Alcoutim
The construction of the international bridge linking Alcoutim in Portugal’s Algarve region and Sanlúcar de Guadiana in Spain’s Andalusia has been recognised by the Portuguese government as of “relevant public interest.”
The announcement was made in a decree published in the state gazette Diário da República last week.
With this special recognition from the government, the project is allowed to build the bridge on a section of REN (National Ecological Reserve) land in Alcoutim, which would otherwise be prohibited.
After years in the pipeline, the bridge project finally began to move forward with the signing of an agreement for its construction between Portugal and Spain at the 35th Iberian Summit, held in Faro in October.
In the government’s decree, the bridge is described as a way of enhancing the cultural, social and economic relationship between the Algarve and Andalusia regions, as well as developing their inland territories.
The bridge will span 435 metres, divided into three sections: a 100-metre segment on the Portuguese side, including local access roads; a 312-metre main deck crossing the Guadiana River; and a 20-metre connection on the Spanish side, linking to Sanlúcar’s road network.
Portuguese roads will connect to the EM507/IC27 roads, while Spanish access will link to the HU-4402.
The project has secured an investment of over €13 million, funded through the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). The municipality of Alcoutim will manage the project, with support from the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR). Environmental and planning agencies, including the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), have reviewed and approved the project.
Construction must be completed by 2026 to meet PRR funding deadlines.
The next steps include finalising the project’s approval with Spanish authorities, as highlighted by José Apolinário, president of CCDR Algarve:
“We are awaiting the appointment of Spain’s representatives to the joint committee that will approve the bridge’s detailed plan,” Apolinário told Lusa news agency.
Apolinário added that the Portuguese delegation is already in place and that the formal bilateral agreement, signed at the Iberian Summit, will be published in Diário da República in the coming weeks.
