Portimão’s long-awaited railway overpass will officially open to traffic on Thursday (December 18).
The overpass is part of the larger railway electrification project between Lagos and Tunes and aims to channel traffic away from the town’s accident-prone level crossing – where several people have died or been injured over the years – which will close to traffic on the same day the overpass opens.
The new overpass will link two roundabouts at Rua Comandante Araújo (south of the railway, between the town’s riverside fish restaurants and the local railway station) and Rua Caldeira do Moinho (north of the railway, near the Portimão Arena).
It will be 365-metres long and seven-metres wide, with two traffic lanes. It will also have side pavements on both sides of the viaduct.
A considerable amount of traffic is expected to be channelled onto the viaduct, as the level crossing which will close to traffic is located in one of the busiest areas of the town, very close to the Cardosas roundabout near the Aqua shopping centre and the northern entrance of Portimão.
The council says the change will not affect the surrounding road network, with current traffic directions, access routes, and layouts remaining the same on adjacent streets.
However, the closure of the level crossing will bring some adjustments to Portimão’s urban bus network. From Thursday, several Vai e Vem routes – lines 12, 21N, 31, 32, 35 and 37 – will be altered. Lines 31 and 32 will be replaced by a new Line 30, which will serve the same areas and improve mobility with a direct connection between Portimão Hospital and the Aqua shopping centre. Buses will run every 30 minutes in both directions. Passengers are advised to check updated timetables on the transport website.
Portimão municipal council says it will continue to monitor the transition in coordination with the relevant authorities to ensure a smooth and safe implementation for residents and public transport users.
