The road variants of Figueira de Cavaleiros and Beringel, integrated into IP8, were inaugurated this Tuesday, September 8, by the Secretary of State for Infrastructure, Hugo Espírito Santo. The ceremonies took place at 10:00 for the Figueira de Cavaleiros Variant and at 11:00 for the Beringel Variant, marking the completion of two road interventions funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan in Baixo Alentejo. Both roads were already open to traffic since August 31.
The two projects represent a total investment of 64.5 million euros. The intervention on IP8 between Santa Margarida do Sado and Ferreira do Alentejo, including the Figueira de Cavaleiros Variant, had an award cost of 30.9 million euros and covered approximately 15 kilometres of structural improvement and a new variant. The intervention between Ferreira do Alentejo and Beja, with the Beringel Variant, cost 33.6 million euros and includes two lanes in each direction, grade-separated connections and integration with the existing network.
The new infrastructure runs along corridors previously associated with the A26 project, a planned link between Sines and Vila Verde de Ficalho, on the border with Spain. In the case of Beringel, the route largely follows the corridor defined under the Baixo Alentejo Subconcession. The variants seek to reduce through traffic in the towns, decrease travel times and reinforce safety conditions on one of the main road axes in Baixo Alentejo.
The IP8 works are part of a broader set of road investments funded by the PRR in the Alentejo, which includes six projects with a total investment of approximately 184 million euros. The previous week, the Eastern Variant of Évora had been inaugurated, with 12.8 kilometres.
