Three roads in Portimão – which are now part of a crucial traffic artery following the opening of a new railway overpass and the closure of the accident-prone level crossing – are due to begin renovations very soon.
The first phase begins on Monday, 19 January, affecting the stretch between Estrada de Monchique near the former bakery and the Frota Azul bus area – more precisely, a stretch of Estrada de Monchique and Rua Projetada à Caldeira do Moinho. During this period, traffic will be fully closed on this section.
Drivers heading to the IEFP building, wholesale market, bus station or the new overpass should now use Rua da Abicada, accessed near the JOM store. Those travelling from Portimão’s town centre towards the Cardosas area are advised to use Avenida São Lourenço da Barrosa (V6) followed by Avenida Paul Harris (V2), with use of the new overpass not recommended during this phase, according to a statement from the municipal council.
The works aims to improve road safety, traffic flow and conditions for pedestrians and cyclists, while “upgrading the existing urban infrastructure”. Although initially scheduled for 2025 – at a time when they predicably would have caused much less disruption as the overpass was still closed and there was less traffic in the area – the works were delayed after the first public tender attracted no bidders, forcing the municipality to relaunch the process. The contract has now been awarded, allowing work to finally move forward.
To limit disruption, the works will be carried out in three phases, with vehicle access maintained whenever possible. The second phase will affect another section of Rua Projetada à Caldeiro do Moinho, while the third phase will focus on Rua da Abicada.
Temporary signage and clearly marked detours will be in place throughout, and traffic impacts will be closely monitored, the council guarantees.
The municipality has asked for residents’ understanding, stressing that the project is essential to ensure the area can safely cope with its new role as one of Portimão’s main traffic corridors, helping create a more accessible, safer and future-ready city.
