Infrastructure Minister João Galamba announced this Friday that the construction of the IC31, the connection between the A23 and the Termas de Monfortinho border, will have a motorway profile.
“The decision is to continue working on the highway profile from the very beginning. First plot [IC31] has a positive environmental impact. For now, it’s time to move forward so that by 2025 the machines are in place,” Joao Galamba told reporters at the end of a meeting in Castelo Branco with the mayors of the Intermunicipal Community of Beira Baixa (CIMBB). border traffic development strategy – IC31.
The minister explained that “Simplex Environment” will soon be published in Diário da República and added that the government expects that this program may shorten some time frames.
The projected IC (Additional Route) 31 will connect the A23 motorway in Alcains (Castelo Branco) with the Spanish border at Termas de Monfortiño (Idanha a Nova) and will consist of two separate sections.
For years, Castelo Branco has sought to connect between the A23 and EX-A1 of Spanish Extremadura, a structural work for the development of Castelo Branco, the region, the Central Region and even the country as a whole.
However, this infrastructure, the construction of which was announced without a highway profile, caused huge discontent and protests in the region.
In December, the Municipal Assembly of Castelo Branco approved a proposal that calls for the Portuguese government to build the IC31 along the profile of the motorway.
The subscribers emphasized that the announcement of the profile of this connection “caused great disappointment to all albicasters, as it does not reflect the profile of the motorway”, and added that “to fully fulfill its purpose, this road connection, better known as IC31, has always been considered and promised as a highway profile”.
With the announcement this Friday by the Minister of Infrastructure, the government stepped back and took over the construction of the motorway.
Joao Galamba also stressed that he would continue to study an alternative site (the first one had a declaration of negative environmental impact).
“We are going to move forward as quickly as possible with the assessment of an alternative corridor in order to solve the problem that led to the failure of the previous cross-border project with the Junta of Extremadura. [Espanha]. Now the main thing is to ensure that the work will be done,” he concluded.
According to the minister, the guarantee is given by the government: “This is the obligation of the prime minister and the obligation of the government.”
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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