Furnas bypass almost complete to ensure quicker access between Pedras do Galego and Ribeira Quente junction - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Furnas bypass, an important project included in the Azores Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), representing an investment of 7.7 million Euros, is progressing smoothly and is almost complete.

The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, visited the site. On the occasion, she noted that ‘this bypass to Furnas ensures a faster route, covering 1.6 kilometres, between Pedras do Galego and Ribeira Quente junction. It creates safe and functional traffic conditions and removes most traffic, namely heavy vehicles, from the centre of the parish."

The Furnas Bypass falls within the RRP component of the Azores' land infrastructures and routes. It corresponds to the first of two phases aimed at improving accessibility to the municipality of Povoação, São Miguel Island.

The second phase comprises the construction of the new road that will link Furnas/Povoação, the municipality seat.

Berta Cabral says traffic will not be affected during this work, as a new road is being built. The second phase, whose planning is being developed internally at the Regional Secretariat, will link Furnas to Lomba do Cavaleiro. According to the government official, this will "guarantee faster and safer access and include Povoação in the road network connecting all the municipalities on São Miguel Island."

Povoação was "the first municipality to develop its tourism and business potential and the last as far as the road network is concerned. It has been the most neglected, at least until now, in terms of accessibility for residents and tourists," she said.

"We are working with the confidence of the relevance of this investment on the island of São Miguel in improving accessibility and bringing all parishes and municipalities closer," she emphasised.

With the construction of this bypass and others on various Azorean islands, "we are creating the conditions for a more balanced economic development, promoting better conditions for the mobility of economic operators, and diverting traffic away from urban areas."

The interventions in the Regional Road Network, "also intend to reduce distances, travel times and traffic jams," stated Berta Cabral. 

She continued: "With the investment underway, we intend to expand and improve road infrastructures in the Azores, improving accessibility to population centres and hubs where economic activity is concentrated and to the main entry points to each island. We also intend to build ring roads to the main urban areas, with a reduction in urban crossings."

Berta Cabral reiterated that "none of the roads planned in the RRP will be left unbuilt," and the deadlines are being fully complied with.