Regional Gvernment moves forward with speed sensors and improved signage on Ponta Delgada-Vila Franca motorway - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Regional Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, is working with Euroscut to find solutions that can guarantee better safety and traffic conditions on the motorways on São Miguel Island.

Accordingly, along the 2.7-kilometre stretch between the Fischer and Santa Cruz junctions, municipality of Lagoa, the solution found and which is already being implemented is the placement of double continuous lines on the road with retractable bollards, road signs and speed sensors. The aim is to prevent overtaking and warn drivers of the dangers posed by speeding, which police authorities point out as one of the main reasons for the growth in road accidents.

The Regional Directorate for Public Works and the road concession company are studying all possible responses to create better road safety conditions on motorways.

The actions taken by both parties have always been aimed at improving road safety, dealing with dangerous areas or discouraging behaviour that could result in dangerous manoeuvres.

The motorways under concession to Euroscut on São Miguel Island cover about 90 kilometres and, over the years, numerous works have been carried out to create better safety conditions for drivers.

Some of the work carried out included improving the roughness of pavements in various areas where accidents were frequent; signposting areas that are not used as pedestrian crossings; warning of the need to prevent overtaking (a dangerous area with no visibility distances for overtaking), which resulted in a change to road surface markings; emergency drills with tank truck (fuel) events.

In addition, solutions have been designed to reduce traffic queues on the motorway - a current section with a high potential for chain collisions (stationary traffic on 100km/h corridors), and actions to raise awareness of the danger of speeding on the SCUT corridor.

In the meantime, Euroscut has set up a pilot test to reduce chain collisions (underway on the Ponta Delgada ring road until the end of March). It uses mobile signs in addition to fixed ones and warns of the need to pay attention in slow-moving traffic situations. 

These signs were in operation over Christmas and New Year and have been switched on randomly to avoid creating familiarity and ceasing to have the intended effect.

The Pilgrims on the Road campaign is underway, using mobile variable message signs and surveillance vehicles.

Work is underway on the São Brás regional road, involving a continuous line and measures to regulate traffic in the bus stop area. The car park next to Café Alfredo will also be improved.