Miguel A. Lopes / Lusa
A1 boarding fell after dike burst in Mondego
Brisa suggests that drivers use alternatives to interrupting the motorway in the North-South direction near the Coimbra Sul interchange, at kilometer 191, via the A8/A17/A25 corridor or the IC2.
In a statement sent to newsrooms this Thursday, Brisa admitted that, “it is not possible, at this time, to estimate the deadline for completing the repair works”, on the A1, it is committed to “minimizing inconvenience” and that “the corridor could be used as alternative routes A8/A17/A25 or IC2“.
The concessionaire confirmed the collapse of part of the pavement on the A1 platform, in the North-South direction, following the , and explained that the collapse occurred “around three hours after the total cutting of the A1, carried out in a preventive manner, in the Coimbra North and Coimbra South subsection – between KM 198 and KM 189 – and did not, at any time, represent any risk for users and workers”.
The rupture in the infrastructure was caused by the bursting of the dike and subsequent excavation of the embankment next to the northern abutment of Mondego viaduct C, due to an exceptional flow of more than 2,100 cubic meters of water per second, the concessionaire further explains.
Brisa made it known that it has been monitoring the development of the situation since the 2nd, “with permanent inspections, and currently has more than 30 operational personnel on the ground”, and is working in coordination with the various institutions within the scope of civil protection and national and local authorities.
A A1 was preventively closed shortly after 6pm on Wednesday in mainland Portugal, in both directions, on the subsection between Coimbra North and Coimbra South, following the rupture of the dike that channels the Mondego River.
Repair of section of the A1 will take weeks
The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luzadmitted that they will be It takes several weeks to repair the section of Highway 1 (A1) which collapsed after the collapse of the dike in Casais, in Coimbra.
During a visit to the site, Pinto Luz highlighted to journalists “the speed and violence of the waters”, which he described as “an absolutely abnormal situation”.
“We have 15 trucks with riprap to reinforce the break that has arisen. Tomorrow morning, more trucks will come to reinforce with rockfill,” said Pinto Luz, quoted by broadcaster RTP Notícias.
The resort to rockfill, compacted blocks of rock, “is the only thing we can do until the waters go down”admitted the minister.
Pinto Luz also said that the fissure, in the north-south direction, “can spread” to the other direction. The leader added that, “until the waters go down, no major intervention can be carried out”.
“It will certainly take weeks for us to get this infrastructure back to the service of the Portuguese”, highlighted Pinto Luz.
“The Government’s commitment is absolute commitment to this solution. We have all our resources mobilized and we will not leave here until we manage to get the A1 back into operation with all the teams”, guaranteed the minister.
