The construction of a new bridge between Portugal and Spain promises to improve mobility in an area of the border where travel continues to be characterized by long and impractical routes. The project has been awaited by local populations for several years and could have an impact on the economy, tourism and cooperation between both sides of the divide.
This future infrastructure will connect Montalvão, in the municipality of Nisa, to Cedillo, in the Spanish province of Cáceres, in Extremadura, creating a direct connection between two locations separated by the River Sever.
According to the Spanish portal, the new crossing will be built in an area where there is still no permanent road connection between these two points on the Portuguese-Spanish border.
Direct connection between the two countries
The bridge will be built over the River Sever, a watercourse that marks part of the border between Portugal and Spain. With this work, the aim is to reduce the isolation of cross-border communities that currently depend on much longer journeys to cross from one country to another.
According to the same source, the connection between Montalvão and Cedillo could be around 85 kilometers shorter. In practice, this reduction should translate into less travel time, lower fuel consumption and lower costs for those who travel regularly in the region.
Impact on regional mobility
The new bridge between Portugal and Spain could also have repercussions for those traveling between Lisbon and Madrid, as it reinforces the accessibility network in an inland area that remains far from the main roads.
Even so, this infrastructure is not expected to replace the main highways used for travel between the two countries. Its role will be mainly local and regional, creating an important alternative for the people of the border and for those who travel in this border area.
The global investment is estimated at more than 24 million euros. According to 20minutos, around five million euros will be guaranteed by the government of Extremadura, while more than 19 million euros will be borne by the Nisa City Council.
Expected long-term benefits
This is a project that has been demanded for decades by populations on both sides of the border, who see the bridge as a way of bringing neighboring territories closer together and facilitating journeys that, until now, require much longer journeys.
Among the main expected benefits is the improvement of the connection between Montalvão and Cedillo, facilitating daily trips, access to services, family contacts and commercial relations between nearby communities, but separated by the lack of a direct road crossing.
The new infrastructure could also contribute to boosting the local economy, through increased tourism, commercial exchange and new investment opportunities, according to 20minutos. In low-density areas, such a connection can help combat isolation and give new vitality to the territory.
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