The viaduct aims to limit traffic at accident-prone level crossings to pedestrians only.
Infrastructure of Portugal (IP) – the national infrastructure authority – shared aerial photographs of the new Portimão viaduct on the railway line, which is at a advanced stage of construction.
The viaduct is part of the largest railway electrification project between Lagos and Tunes and aims to keep traffic away from the city’s accident-prone crossing – where several people have died or been injured over the years – and limit traffic on the level crossing to pedestrians only. It will be connect two roundabouts at Rua Comandante Araújo (south of the railway line, between the town’s riverside fish restaurants and the local train station) and Rue Caldeira do Moinho (north of the railway, near the Portimão Arena).
According to the environmental impact study of the electrification project, the new viaduct will be 365 meters long and seven meters wide, with two traffic lanes. There will also be side sidewalks on both sides of the viaduct.
Considerable traffic is expected to be channeled towards the viaduct, as the level crossing which will be closed to traffic is located in one of the busiest areas of the city, very close to the Cardosas roundabout, near the Aqua shopping center and the northern entrance to Portimão.
IP has not revealed when the work will be completed or when the viaduct is expected to be open to traffic, although a statement from Portimão City Council in 2022 indicated completion in 2024.
