The Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing has announced several decisions following Minister Miguel Pinto Luz’s recent journey along EN2. The minister mandated IP to assess the needs of the road that stretches over 700 kilometers, connecting the north and south of the country.
Plans include improving road safety conditions, refurbishing milestones and verges, creating parks for motorhomes and bikers, establishing other rest areas, and enhancing informational signage to highlight the cultural, heritage, and gastronomic offerings of each municipality, alongside Turismo de Portugal. There will also be larger milestones at kilometer zero in Chaves and kilometer 738 in Faro, marking the beginning and end of the EN2 route, according to the Ministry.
During his trip, which began Tuesday in Chaves and concluded today in the Algarve, Pinto Luz also announced the refurbishment of the section between kilometers 425 and 467.9, spanning the districts of Santarém and Portalegre, through the municipalities of Abrantes, Ponte de Sor, and Avis.
This project, with an investment of 10 million euros, aims to enhance the safety and circulation conditions of this stretch, currently considered to be in an “unsatisfactory” state of conservation, the Ministry noted.
In the Faro district, road repairs will be conducted at kilometer 710 of EN2, in São Brás de Alportel, due to pavement subsidence caused by geotechnical phenomena due to last winter’s weather conditions, the note stated.
Highlighted in the communiqué, the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing emphasized the Government’s “continuous dialogue” with “local power representatives, regardless of their political affiliation,” evident over the 738 kilometers covered across 35 municipalities.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing also mentioned concerns raised by local officials, including the need to declass urban sections of the EN2, the decision on the route of the Main Itinerary 3 (IP3) motorway between Coimbra and Mortágua, and the construction of an access from the motorway 2 (A2) to the future emergency service heliport in Vila de Rei.
