Thursday, February 03, 2005
Road Bridge Shock Horror!
If you go down to the woods today... you'll be a lot safer than driving across the Faro road bridge!
It seems that a damning report about the state of repair of this bridge has come to light recently and it makes 'interesting' reading.
The main problem with the report seems to be that it is almost 3 years old and has been buried in a bureaucratic backwater.
Now that it's been unearthed, its recommendations should be put into place as soon as possible, states the discloser of this vital information (and President of Faro Câmara), José Vitorino.
Among a number of measures reported in the Resident, the local English-language newspaper, there should be a ban on all traffic of more than 3.5 tonnes. Even those vehicles that are permitted should maintain a minimum distance of 30 metres.
This is likely to be regarded as something of an imposition by local drivers, who normally operate in the 0.3 to 3 metre range!
It will be interesting to observe how quickly and how tenaciously these conditions are enforced, since driving safety is a concept that is only inching its way into the Portuguese consciousness...
Don't forget, you heard it here first - and if you didn't, why hadn't you let ME know via the handy form on my site's Your Algarve Best page?
As always, my advice is to drive cautiously in the Algarve, and to keep your wits about you. (Plus, avoid crossing the Faro bridge if at all possible - you have been warned!)
It seems that a damning report about the state of repair of this bridge has come to light recently and it makes 'interesting' reading.
The main problem with the report seems to be that it is almost 3 years old and has been buried in a bureaucratic backwater.
Now that it's been unearthed, its recommendations should be put into place as soon as possible, states the discloser of this vital information (and President of Faro Câmara), José Vitorino.
Among a number of measures reported in the Resident, the local English-language newspaper, there should be a ban on all traffic of more than 3.5 tonnes. Even those vehicles that are permitted should maintain a minimum distance of 30 metres.
This is likely to be regarded as something of an imposition by local drivers, who normally operate in the 0.3 to 3 metre range!
It will be interesting to observe how quickly and how tenaciously these conditions are enforced, since driving safety is a concept that is only inching its way into the Portuguese consciousness...
Don't forget, you heard it here first - and if you didn't, why hadn't you let ME know via the handy form on my site's Your Algarve Best page?
As always, my advice is to drive cautiously in the Algarve, and to keep your wits about you. (Plus, avoid crossing the Faro bridge if at all possible - you have been warned!)
