en.Wedoany.com Reported - July 13, 2026, Paulo Carmona, President of Portugal's Infrastructure Company (IP), disclosed at the signing ceremony of the project commission that the construction of the National Road 222 (EN222)/A32 (Canedo/Serrinha Junction) branch line in Castelo de Paiva, Aveiro District, will cost €71 million and take 900 days. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing attended the ceremony.
The project aims to provide an alternative route for the current section. Although National Road 222 (EN222) was once hailed by a multinational car rental company as "the most beautiful road in the world," it has long faced congestion and road safety issues. The new road, spanning 10 kilometers, will connect EN222 to the Canedo/Serrinha Junction of A32, addressing the long-standing traffic bottleneck in the region. Carmona stated that this is a priority implementation that directly benefits people's lives and economic activities.
Carmona noted that the project has implications for regional mobility and economic development, enabling faster and safer connections to A32/IC2, improving accessibility to the Lavagueiras business zone, enhancing business vitality and regional attractiveness, while also benefiting local residents, fully reflecting the dual economic and social benefits of the investment. He emphasized that the investment is funded by the Portuguese government and does not rely on European funds.
According to the IP President, the new road will feature two-way dual lanes, with shoulders adapted to expected traffic volumes, and dedicated slow-vehicle lanes on more than half of the route. Due to its length and technical complexity, the project demands high standards, with multiple viaducts and bridges planned, including the Inha River Bridge, approximately 350 meters long.
Ricardo Cardoso, Mayor of Castelo de Paiva, expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for turning the local community's decades-long demand into a project. The mayor stated that he views this as the beginning of a new cycle for Castelo de Paiva and pledged to make this branch line not only a corridor connecting the local area to the coastal region but also a gateway to new development, prosperity, and hope for the municipality. Amadeu Albergaria, Mayor of Santa Maria da Feira, also emphasized that the project will make the northeastern part of his municipality a major road transport hub, consolidating the city's position as a large agglomeration center south of the Porto metropolitan area.
