BRIDGE OVER THE MONDEGO RIVER - ATLANTIC COAST ROUTE IN FIGUEIRA DA FOZ

In December 2024, the Municipality of Figueira da Foz launched an international public tender for the construction of the “Bridge over the Mondego River — Eurovelo 1 — Atlantic Coast Route.” The project involves the construction of a bridge over the central channel of the Mondego River, in the municipality of Figueira da Foz, and the respective accesses connecting to the existing roads parallel to the river channel, linking the parish of Vila Verde to the north and the parish of Alqueidão to the south.

The construction of the bridge over the Mondego River, with a length of 397.20 m, will allow its integration into the Eurovelo 1 — Atlantic Coast Route, in the Coimbra Region, by ensuring mobility for bicycles and pedestrians and guaranteeing road access for light and emergency vehicles, through the establishment of a dedicated and exclusive lane for each mode of transport.

The Atlantic Coast Route — Eurovelo 1 is an anchor route of the Portuguese Trails project, which aims to position Portugal internationally as a cycling and walking destination, with a view to attracting new audiences, reducing seasonality, and correcting regional asymmetries, while promoting the use of soft modes of mobility and the development of sustainable practices.

A Rota da Costa Atlântica — Eurovelo 1 integra a Rede EuroVelo, enquanto parte do projeto da European Cyclist Federation, e liga a região norueguesa de Nordkap, passando por países como a Inglaterra, Irlanda, França, Espanha, num total de 10 250 km, até Portugal.

A Rede Eurovelo abrange cerca de 90 000 km de ciclovias divididos em 17 rotas que interligam 42 países no continente europeu. Esta é uma rede de rotas destinadas à prática do cicloturismo à escala europeia, respeitando um conjunto de requisitos mínimos que garantem a segurança, apoio logístico e enquadramento patrimonial e paisagístico.

O projeto a implementar tem uma vincada componente verde, tendo como objetivo primordial promover a mobilidade sustentável do ponto de vista económico, ambiental e social. Assim, o projeto visa incentivar o uso da bicicleta enquanto meio de transporte diário e recreativo, proporcionar uma alternativa viável e segura para ciclistas e pedestres, reduzir a dependência de veículos automóveis e diminuir o congestionamento urbano e as emissões de gases de efeito estufa (GEE).

The Atlantic Coast Route — Eurovelo 1 is part of the EuroVelo network, which is part of the European Cyclist Federation project, and connects the Norwegian region of Nordkap, passing through countries such as England, Ireland, France, and Spain, covering a total of 10,250 km, to Portugal.
By promoting sustainable mobility, reducing GHG emissions, connecting communities, protecting the environment, stimulating the economy, and raising public awareness, the project is aligned with national and EU policies on the main challenges in reducing GHG emissions and with the long-term goals of addressing the climate and ecological emergency, promoting a greener and more sustainable future for all, and improving their quality of life.

The planned investment for the "Bridge over the Mondego River — Eurovelo 1 — Atlantic Coast Route" project has a total value of €7,600,583.08, including value added tax (VAT), corresponding to €7,170,361.40 for the base value of the contract, plus VAT in the amount of €430,221.68. 

The Environmental Fund will support the investment, covering the full cost of the project, up to a maximum of €7,600,583.08. Given its size, it is estimated that the project will be implemented and the financial costs incurred in 2025 and 2026, with the expenditure to be authorized by a resolution of the Council of Ministers, in accordance with the law.

As it has not been possible to secure funding through the Recovery and Resilience Plan, there is still a need to finance the project at national level, namely through the Environmental Fund.

It also happens that the public works contract was signed on March 14, 2025, and it is necessary, , under the terms of the law, approval by the Court of Auditors, which justifies the urgency, immediacy, and proportionality of this expenditure authorization by the Environmental Fund in the public interest, avoiding the risk of the project failing to obtain financing and the consequent approval for the consignment of the work and commencement of the works, with serious environmental and financial impacts that may result therefrom.

The transfer of funds from the Environmental Fund to the Municipality of Figueira da Foz will be ensured by a financial collaboration protocol, for the total amount of the investment and in accordance with the multi-annual program set out in this resolution.