en.Wedoany.com Reported - The pre-feasibility study for the new Metro do Porto line between Estádio do Dragão and Souto, in Gondomar, entered public consultation this Wednesday, with the consultation period running until September 15. The relevant documents are available on the participa.pt portal.
According to the non-technical summary published on the public consultation portal, the line is approximately 6.9 kilometers long, comprising surface sections, underground tunnel sections, and elevated sections, with a total of nine stations: São Roque, Cerco, Parque Oriental, Lagoa, Valbom, Hospital Fernando Pessoa, Cosme Ferreira Castro, Oliveira Martins, and Souto.
The project includes the construction of three tunnels, located respectively between Estádio do Dragão and São Roque, between Lagoa and Valbom, and at Hospital Fernando Pessoa. A new 125-meter-long viaduct will be built between Parque Oriental and Lagoa, crossing the Torto River.
Two construction alternatives are proposed for the line, differing only between Parque Oriental station and Lagoa station: Alternative 1 uses a tunnel connection, while Alternative 2 uses a surface connection. The section between Estádio do Dragão and São Roque is predominantly in tunnel, with only the stretch approaching São Roque station converted to a cut-and-cover trench, located on Alameda de Cartes. After this section, the line runs at surface level along the central median of Avenida Cidade de León to Cerco station, which is approximately 350 meters from São Roque station.
The line continues through the roundabout between Avenida Cidade de León and Avenida Francisco Xavier Esteves, with Parque Oriental station located on the central median of the roundabout, in an open-air layout. Entering Gondomar territory, Lagoa station is situated north of the intersection of Luís de Camões Street (National Road 209) and Capela da Lagoa Street, built in a cut-and-cover trench, with platforms equipped with stairs and elevators to facilitate passenger access and to support the subsequent start of underground construction works.
The Lagoa to Valbom section is partially in tunnel, with the line passing beneath Luís de Camões Street, António Sérgio Street, and António Sérgio Lane, then crossing the urban area of the parish of Valbom (freguesia de Valbom), before running beneath Rua Eng. Mário Giesta and returning to the surface at Rua das Cavadinhas. Valbom station is located behind Rua Professora Georgina Nuno Neves Duarte and Rua Pinheiro D'Aquém.
The line then continues toward Hospital Fernando Pessoa, passing beneath the A43 motorway to enter the hospital station, which features a small square. Toward Cosme Ferreira Castro station, the line re-enters tunnel for most of the section except for its final stretch, with the station located on the street of the same name. Oliveira Martins station is situated on the central axis of the avenue of the same name. Before Souto station, the line curves left into Rua da Igreja, runs along the street, and crosses the central section of the roundabout between Rua da Igreja and Avenida 25 de Abril, arriving at Praça da República.
Souto station is located next to the existing road transport terminal. The project plans a comprehensive redevelopment of this area, integrating the rail section and public spaces into a multifunctional square, featuring leisure and rest areas, a building for bus drivers, a community recreation room, and an Andante store, allowing both transit functions and public gathering to coexist.
The works are expected to last three years. Emídio Gomes, President of Metro do Porto, stated in January that the tender for the design and construction of this line would be launched this year. In terms of funding, the European funds program "Sustentável 2030" has secured €225 million for this line and the Trofa line.
