OLD AND abandoned structures along the river front in Vila Real will give way to a hotel, restaurants and commercial spaces when construction of a redevelopment project begins in 2008.
Management of the areas, that until now were the responsibility of the Instituto Portuário e dos Transportes Maritimos (IPTM), the port and maritime transport authority, will pass to the Câmara of Vila Real, who will define the new image where old naval equipment is located.
Hotel planned
Included in the new project is the construction of a tourism development with views of the Guadiana River. The project will also include a hotel, tennis courts, shops and a car parking area.
Many buildings will be renovated such as the customs building which will be separated into different sections with a ticket office for marine operators run by the IPTM, a Serviços de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) office and an office for the Brigada Fiscal, a specialist GNR department.
A tourism office will be created in the old fluvial frontier post and a cultural space will also be created where the train used to stop near the river front. To complement this, three new docks will be built as well as 20 metre wide access way to the river.
Luis Gomes, President of Vila Real Câmara has not revealed the estimated cost of the project but said that he is confident that the project that will span 4km in length will be a success.
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