From March, to May, to August, the opening date for the Faro bypass was always a vague, elfin concept until now when even the myopic management at Infraestruturas de Portugal can see that the section of road that has been under construction for several years is at last being swept clean in preparation for opening.
Local media has been briefed that the road will open next week and on inspecting the work in progress today for once this may be closer to the truth, closer certainly than previous excited announcements from a road company that does not like to rush things.
There is still a slip road bridge section to be completed over the polluted Ribeira das Lavadeiras but even this may not stop the inauguration of the bypass that will take an estimated 20,000 vehicles per day that currently are forced to trek through Faro.
Many more drivers opt for the winding country roads up to to Estoi if heading to the Via do Infante rather than face an added delay by driving through the regional capital.
The president of Faro Council, Rogério Bacalhau has not predicted an opening date as his previous three have proved inaccurate, showing the road company either had no real clue as to its own work progress or simply was having a bit of fun with the mayor, desperate as he is for some good news on which to hang his hat.
There seems now to be an internal company deadline to achieve as currently there are workmen operating overnight after years or no work at all, or patchy progress.
Along with the new road in Lagos, the Faro bypass will be held up by the ruling coalition as a shining example of what the government has done for the Algarve.
Infraestruturas de Portugal, a merger of Estradas de Portugal and the rail company REFER, is run by much of the original managements from whom excuses used to explain lengthy delays are second nature.
The remaining improvements to the EN125 scheduled for between Olhão and Lagos are on hold until after the summer season ‘so as not to affect the traffic flow.’
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