Tender for cliff protection works in parish of Calhetas launched today - Communication

Laboratório Regional de Engenharia Civil

The Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures launched today the international public tender for the consolidation and protection works of the Calhetas coastline, municipality of Ribeira Grande, which is in an advanced state of erosion.

This is an investment of more than 2.7 million Euros, whose tender was launched in record time since it is a residential area prone to frequent landslides.

The Calhetas cliff protection works, with a completion period of 600 days, will take place over an extension of about 180 metres. It covers the Rua da Boavista and Rua da Boa Viagem areas, where the most recent landslides have occurred.

The cross-sectional profile of this intervention (rubble-mound breakwater) includes a platform with a crest at a height of +8.0 metres, with a minimum width of 15 metres, and an edge at a height of +6.5 metres, with a width of 10 metres, whose slopes have a steep incline - 3(H):2(V).

It also includes the construction of a spillway to eliminate the erosion caused by the discharge of rainwater over the cliff.

Moreover, the project will involve the construction of a temporary access ramp to the site so as to bridge the gap between the top of the cliff and the nearby beach. This will not cause any constraints on the use of the bathing area, located to the east of the intervention area.

As already mentioned by the Regional Secretary, Berta Cabral, the urgency in launching the international public tender takes into account, above all, the safety of the people living near the Calhetas cliff.

The government official had already announced that "the ultimate goal is to be in a position to award the works contract by May."

Since the beginning of this year, the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, through the Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory and the Regional Directorate for Public Works, respectively, has been conducting weekly monitoring and various interventions on the streets affected by the landslides.

"Our technical services are following this process from the very first hour, monitoring the affected area and taking all necessary precautions to safeguard people's safety," she said.