Aljezur had called for an urgent solution to solve the traffic nightmare that erupted in Odeceixe
Just one day after Aljezur municipal council publicly demanded urgent action to resolve the closure of the EN120 in Odeceixe, national infrastructure authority Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) announced concrete steps toward restoring traffic circulation along the damaged stretch of road.
In a statement released on Friday, IP confirmed that it will launch a project to carry out “repair and stabilisation works” at kilometre 128.6 of the EN120 – currently closed due to a serious risk of collapse. The move follows internal approval by IP’s Executive Board, which has given the green light for the immediate start of the technical process.
According to IP, the aim is to begin work on the ground “as quickly as possible” in order to restore safety and normal traffic conditions to this critical section of the road.
The road was closed on March 19 as a preventive safety measures after technical assessments determined that there was a “high risk of collapse,” triggered by heavy rains and lingering effects of last summer’s wildfire.
In response to the emergency, IP launched geological and geotechnical surveys along a 100-metre stretch of the road and gathered data which is now being used to shape the road repair project. Works will commence once the project is completed, IP adds.
Earlier last week, the local council of Aljezur had blamed several governments and IP for allowing the road to reach such a poor state, accusing them of “disinterest and lack of investment.”
The local authority also highlighted that the National Road Plan foresaw the construction of a proper alternative – the IC4 road – which was supposed to connect Lagos to Sines. However, after countless studies carried out over the years, no action has been taken, the council laments.
In light of this “unacceptable” situation, the local authority met on Thursday (April 3) to unanimously demand an “urgent and definitive solution to reopen traffic on the affection section of the EN120”; the construction of an alternative road linking the Algarve and the Alentejo that is safe and helps traffic flow; and the setting aside of funds in the next State Budget for the repair of municipal and secondary roads, which are “suffering from an overload” of traffic due to the current bypasses in place, “particularly in the parish of Odeceixe.”
The council said it will follow the situation closely and inform the population about any updates, ensuring “all necessary measures will be taken to solve the issue”. No further “delays or negligence” will be tolerated by the council on this matter, “no matter the political consequences it may lead to,” it promised.
