Berta Cabral monitors Capelas bypass project on site - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, made a follow-up visit this week to the construction site of the Capelas Bypass, a key project within the “Azores Regional Road Network” – Regional Road Network of the Azores." This project is financed under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and was awarded to the consortium composed of the companies Marques S.A., Tecnovia Açores and Afavias.

During the visit, members of the construction supervision team, the Regional Directorate for Public Works, and the RRP-Azores monitoring structure were present. This initiative is part of the monthly cycle of visits promoted by the Regional Secretary, in addition to the usual technical rounds, demonstrating the direct and systematic involvement of the Regional Government in the swift fulfilment of the targets agreed with the European Union.

The government official recalled that the completion of this project is "a fundamental priority" in the Annual Regional Plan for 2026, which makes the use of EU funds a political and institutional obligation.

The overall investment, including the design, construction and supervision, is estimated at over €46 million, with the RRP covering the vast majority, further strengthening the commitment to infrastructure development and territorial cohesion.

The additional effort made by the consortium companies to reinforce human and material resources was recognised during the visit, with clear progress since the previous round. The Regional Secretary congratulated everyone involved on the streamlining of procedures and the promptness shown.

However, Berta Cabral warned of the need to maintain "an intense and disciplined pace of work" to comply with the schedule set out in the RRP and avoid risks in the implementation of the work.

This project will connect the northern and southern parts of São Miguel Island — between Ponta Delgada and the north-western area — with approximately 8.3 km of bypass and 1.4 km of connecting road to the village of Capelas, improving internal mobility, access to services and road safety.

The Regional Secretary emphasised that the work is not only structural but also symbolic: it represents the implementation of an investment policy supported by EU funds aimed at strengthening the autonomy, cohesion and competitiveness of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

This visit reiterates the Regional Government's commitment to ensuring that the structural projects included in the RRP are completed accurately and on schedule, guaranteeing the expected social and economic return for the nine islands.