The Environmental Impact Study of the long-awaited Olhão bypass has stated that the project has impacts of 'non-significant importance' and says the road is ‘environmentally viable.’
The public can comment until June 12th but as the deal is part of the upgrading of the EN125, taking traffic from the current road that passes through the north of the city to alleviate congestion, it is unlikely that there will be many negative comments.
Those interested in getting to know the project better can consult the documents on the Participa! Website.
According to the non-technical summary of the Environmental Impact Study submitted by Infraestruturas de Portugal which will carry out the work, two routes were studied, both for a road with a single lane in each direction through some agricultural reserve land.
The conclusion of the new study is that the best solution is the same as the one approved in an Environmental Impact Assessment made in late 2011/early 2012.
Nothing has happened in the intervening seven years after the bypass was removed from the Rotas do Algarve Litoral concession which was taken back by the state-owned company, Infraestruturas de Portugal.
Locals long ago gave up on ever seeing a bypass being built, despite dozens of promises from a succession of politicians.
The plans, in .pdf form, are at:
siaia.apambiente.pt/AIADOC//AIA3252/0518%20ep%20eia%20t1%20rnt201942316337.pdf
