The public tender for the conception and construction of the "ecovia" of the Algarvian coast in the municipality of Faro is to start, a decision deliberated in the last meeting of the executive of Faro Municipal Council. The "ecovia", which will establish a connection between Vila Real de Santo António and Sagres in a continuous coastal course.

It will present for this stretch two phases of construction: the first which corresponds to the connection a cycle path from the Parque das Cidades to Gambelas and from there to the roundabout of the IPJ (Portuguese Youth Institute), and the second which continues this stretch from the IPJ in the direction of the municipality of Olhão.

The Faro Municipal Council estimate six months as the period for the execution of the works and 122,906.75 euros as the planned budget, with this stretch to be financed through a candidature presented to the Interreg III A programme, at an anticipated rate of 75%.

The objectives of the construction of the "ecovia" are "to articulate natural routes through protected areas, with stretches of the circulation restricted and conditioned, as a way of allowing a combination of uses from leisure and tourism to pendular trips around the territory", revealed the local authority in a press communication.

The "ecovia" project was initiated by the CCDR (Commission of Co-ordination and Regional Development), which together with the AMAL (Grand Metropolitan Area of the Algarve) and the Natural Park of the Ria Formosa have co-ordinated the job of

defining the routes and elaboration of the job descriptions, aimed at inviting tenders in collaboration with the various local authorities.

source: regiao sul