Beja City Council requests Government to launch A26 by the end of the first semester

The Beja City Council has advocated to the Government for the launch of the A26 execution project by the end of the first semester, extending from the municipality of Ferreira do Alentejo to the vicinity of the district capital. In a statement released on Friday, March 6, the municipality revealed that the president and vice-president, Nuno Palma Ferro and Liliana Cabecinha, respectively, were received in Lisbon by the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, where this project was discussed. The council requested 'the start of the A26 execution project by the end of the first semester'. According to the statement, the municipality noted that this deadline had already been mentioned previously and that it will 'pay close attention to the compliance with this matter'. The construction of the A26 to Beja is deemed a 'determining investment for the development of the territory'. A municipal source contacted on Friday by the Lusa agency explained that this involves the execution 'of the motorway, with two lanes in each direction, from the Malhada Velha roundabout in Ferreira do Alentejo to the Beja Airport roundabout', just a few kilometres from the district capital. During this meeting, the Government mentioned that the damage caused by Storm Kristin in Leiria 'may affect the compliance with the established deadline, indicating that everything will be done to ensure it is not exceeded'. In the same meeting with Minister Pinto Luz, rail transport was another topic discussed, with the City Council requesting 'urgency' in sending 'diesel and electric' carriages for the Alentejo Line. This request aims to 'recover some comfort for all who use this means of transport until the electrification works on the Beja - Casa Branca route begin'. 'The minister committed to assist in this matter,' the municipal council assured in the same statement. On March 11, 2025, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing stated that it had instructed Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP), through a resolution approved in the Council of Ministers, 'to proceed with the necessary actions for the implementation of a set of priority road infrastructure projects'. The Principal Route 8 (IP8)/A26 is among a total of 'about 30 roadways defined as priorities', according to the ministry. Construction of the IP8 (future A26) between Sines and Beja has already begun with an investment of €257 million.