Algarve - traffic increases on the Via do Infante

The average daily traffic volume on the motorway from Lisbon to the Algarve(A2) and the Algarve’s Via do Infante (A22) increased in the last quarter of 2013 after more than two years of decline.

According to a bulletin issued by the Commission for Coordination and Regional Development - Algarve, all about mobility and transport in the fourth quarter of 2013, the section of the A2 between Almodovar and Messines saw an increase in daily traffic of 5.4% year on year, and traffic on the A22 which stretches between Lagos and Vila Real de Santo António, rose 13.1%.

The introduction of tolls on the Via do Infante in December 2011 saw the start of a long-term decline in traffic volume on the Algarve's primary route to 50% of it peak. 

The growth of traffic volume on the A22 to 6,324 vehicles per day was 'due to more tourist traffic,' according to the report.

Volumes on the Algarve’s major roads grew but the use of urban public transport and inter-regional public transport decreased, which may also have boosted the traffic volumes on the main roads.

The creaking trans-Algarve railway system also recorded an increase with 375,198 passengers using the service, an increase of 12.7% over 2012.

Public transport by road was the only sector that went against a general positive trend, according to the report.

Comments  

+2 #5 John Haigh 2014-05-01 22:01

Could be the tourist using it unaware of that it is a toll road.. :

+5 #4 Paul 2014-05-01 11:12

Two promises were made pre-tolls:
1. That a full independent report would be commissioned, produced discussed in parliament as to the affects of the tolls on the local economy
2. That due to the poor state of the EN125, this road would have €200 millionn + spent on upgrading it to compensate for the imposition of tolls and the inevitable rise in traffic volume. This programme was cancelled shortly afterwards and is not even in the government's multi-billion spending programme for the country's infrastructure, rail and ports are but tolls stay and the EN125 deteriorates to the embarassment of all those involved in tourism, and the anger of commuters and those in the transport business.
Politicians, eh?

+7 #3 RCK 2014-05-01 11:02

Ed - dictionary definition of "promise" - "assurance as to what one will or will not do"..... Lies, damn lies and statistics eh?!

+4 #2 Paul 2014-05-01 10:25

Yes, Rick, the volume halved with the tolls and the economic crisis. Any increases now are heralded as great news but the traffic that exists continues to jam the EN125 (1 hour 40 minutes yesterday afternoon night to travel from Almancil to Olhao) and the cost to the taxpayer on top of toll income has been running at €40 million a year with no report into the Via do Infante tolls' affect on the economy as promised by the government in 2011.

+7 #1 RCK 2014-05-01 10:17

I don't remember the precise figure, but I recall that traffic volume on the tolled A22 had reduced by about 50% to the end of 2013 (Ed?). This being the case, a 13.1% increase in the last quarter still leaves the traffic volume down 43.4% overall since the inception of the tolls. Hardly a great success. And still costing the Portuguese taxpayer how much a year?

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