For three days in March, the public will be able to cross the Guadiana River on foot from Portugal's Alcoutim to Spain's San Lúcar on the opposite bank.
The council is having the bridge installed as part of the Festival of Contraband - trafficking in the Arts of the Guadiana (Festival do Contrabando – Tráfico de Artes do Guadiana) on March 24th to the 26th.
The bridge will have to be opened from time to time to let boats pass and the maritime authorities of both countries will be on hand to ensure everyone is safe.
The event is part of the Algarve 360 programme and aims to celebrate the area where smuggling was, some would say "still is," a way of life.
The flow of illicit goods has promoted cross border cooperation between the two countries for generations and this is the theme of the event which is being matched by the Spanish in a complimentary programme.
According to Osvaldo Gonçalves, the Alcoutim mayor, there has been intensive collaboration and he hopes the publicity on the Spanish side will attract Spaniards to cross over to Portugal to enjoy the town and the festival.
Alcoutim is spending €130,000 on the festival and the temporary bridge, "As part of our candidacy for 365 Algarve, we will have a contribution from the Region Tourist Board of around €87,000," commented Gonçalves to Sul Informação.
