International public tender launched for protection of Santa Iria harbour, representing investment of more 5.6 million Euros - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The international public tender for the redevelopment and maritime protection of the Santa Iria harbour on São Miguel Island has just been published in the Regional Official Journal, the Official Gazette of the National Government and the European Union Official Journal.

Launched by the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, through the Regional Directorate for Public Works, the works contract represents an investment of €5,626,000.00 (VAT included). It is aimed at the redevelopment and maritime protection of this harbour located in the parish of Ribeirinha, municipality of Ribeira Grande.

The main purpose is to promote safety conditions in the Santa Iria Harbour area by stabilising the cliffs adjacent to the regional access road to the harbour, mitigating the geotechnical risk to people and property, both on the access road to the harbour and in the sun deck area. This will be achieved by installing support elements adapted to the local environmental exposure and with low visual impact.

At the same time, this project intends to secure coastal protection against the direct action of sea waves, both in the northern and southern sectors of the harbour infrastructure, in addition to safeguarding and preserving the heritage built in the Santa Iria harbour.

The work planned for the harbour consists of clearing and blasting the cliffs to implement a stabilisation solution based on nailing and metal mesh, covering an area of about 27,000 m2, and the construction of rainwater drainage systems.

There are also plans to upgrade the access road to the harbour, including paving, building walls and placing road signs. The project also includes maritime protection works and harbour redevelopment, namely the preservation of its built heritage.

According to the Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, "It is essential to promote safety conditions in the Santa Iria Harbour area by stabilising the cliffs adjacent to the regional access road to the harbour, mitigating the risk to people and property, especially on the access road to the harbour."

"Ensuring coastal protection against the direct action of sea waves, both in the northern and southern sectors of the harbour infrastructures, in addition to safeguarding and preserving the heritage built in the Santa Iria harbour are essential aspects of this large-scale project," she said.