As part of the Portuguese national highway programme, the "Concessão Douro Litoral" is in full swing.
The Portuguese government has launched an international public tender for granting this Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) Project, comprising the construction of 3 tolled motorways – A43, A41 and A32, called Douro Litoral concession.
With an investment of 872 million, this Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) project is a 27 year operating scheme, that has a total length of 129 km, of which 76 km correspond to the construction, operation and maintenance of new motorways A43, A41 and A32, and the remaining 53 km the improvement, conservation and operation of roads already in service.
This project aims to improve mobility in the Porto Metropolitan Area, as well as the counties of Oliveira de Azemeis and Paredes (surrounding country counties), decongest the road throughout the area, as it will be possible to travel between the two banks of the Douro River without crossing the city of Porto.
The implementation of this grant will impact on three levels:
- Significant reduction of journey times
- Important casualty reduction, since it is expected a reduction of about 20% in the rate of serious injuries and fatalities
- Improved environmental quality primarily because all traffic is long distance to benefit from a new alternative, decongest the urban area of Porto.
This Concession Contract was awarded to a consortium named AEDL - Highways of Douro Litoral, led by Brisa Auto-Estradas de Portugal SA, after international public tender and 14 proposals of the 4 tenderers.
When construction is completed in October of 2011, Auto-Estradas do Douro Litoral (AEDL) will be responsible for maintaining 129 Kms of existing and new road for 27 years.
The Project in Detail
- A32/IC2 – Oliveira de Azeméis/ IP1 (S. Lourenço)
- 34 Kms of dual (16 Kms) and 3 lane (18 Kms) carriageway;
- 24 Month construction programme;
- 8 junctions;
- 12 bridges and viaducts and 2 tunnels (4500 m in total length);
- 29 Over bridges and 22 underpasses;
- 20 million m3 of bulk earthworks;
- 2 million m3 rock blasting;
- Total cost: 386,4 M €.
A41/IC24 – Picoto (IC2)/ Nó da Ermida (IC25)
- 34 Kms of dual (18,4 Kms) and 3 lane (15,6 Kms) carriageway;
- 26 Month construction programme;
- 10 junctions;
- 13 bridges and viaducts and 2 tunnels (4800 m in total length);
- 39 Over bridges and underpasses;
- 30 million m3 of bulk earthworks;
- 3 million m3 rock blasting;
- Total cost: 325,2 M €.
A43/IC29 – Gondomar/ Aguiar de Sousa (IC24)
- 9 Kms of dual carriageway;
- 20 Month construction programme;
- 2 junctions;
- 2 bridges and 5 viaducts (1100 m in total length);
- 5 Over bridges and 3 underpasses;
- 5 million m3 of bulk earthworks;
- Total cost: 59,3 M €.
Nuno Gonçalves, Graduate Member in Portugal