Pinhal Interior Motorway Project

The work is composed of the following sections:

- New Construction

- IC3 Subsection – Avelar Norte / Condeixa - Lot 2

- IC3 Subsection – Condeixa / Coimbra Sul - Lot 3

- IC3 Subsection – Avelar Sul / Avelar - Lot 4

- IC3 Subsection – Proença-a-Nova / Perdigão A23 - Lot 7

- ER238 Subsection – Cernache do Bonjardim / Sertã-IC8 - Lot 9 and EN238

- Subsection – Sertã / Oleiros - Lot 10

- Improvement / Dualling

- IC8 Subsection – Pombal / Ansião – Lot 13

- EN2 Subsection – Vila de Rei / Sertã - IC8 – Lot 16

- ER238 Subsection – Ferreira do Zêzere / Cernache do Bonjardim – Lot 17

- IC8 Subsection – Carriço (A17) / Pombal – Lot 19

- IC8 Subsection – Sertã / Proença-a-Nova – Lot 21

- EN2 Subsection – Abrantes (A23) / Vila de Rei – Lot 22

 Lot 2 - IC3 Subsection – Avelar Norte / Condeixa

The IC3 section – Avelar Norte / Condeixa, with a total length of 16.111 km, begins north of Avelar and ends after the Condeixa Junction, which is part of another section within this subconcession: EN 342 – Condeixa / Condeixa Junction (IC3).

This subsection continues from IC3 – Avelar Sul / Avelar Norte and is followed by IC3 section – Condeixa / Coimbra (IP3 / IC2).

Running generally in a south-north direction, the route develops roughly parallel and to the east of the EN 110, passing between the towns of Penela and Espinhal, where the first junction - Penela Junction (trumpet type, at km 3+400) - is located and provides quick access to Penela, its industrial zone, and Espinhal.

Northwards, this subsection crosses the Dueça (or Corvo) River Valley at approximately km 5+750, with a new junction, EN 342 Junction (trumpet-type, km 10+669), planned south of Lamas. This junction connects to EN 342 via a 1876m long access road (Branch A+B plus Access to EN 342).

The route of this subsection was developed with geometric characteristics suitable for a standard base speed of 120 km/h.

According to EP, E.P.E. standards regarding cross-section profiles to be adopted, the main roadway has a dual carriageway profile (2x2 lanes) with a platform width of 23.6 m and a central reservation consisting of a New Jersey-type rigid barrier of 0.6 m width, comprising:

- Two separate carriageways with two lanes of 3.75 m each;

- Left shoulder, 1.0 m wide;

- Right shoulder, 3.0 m wide 

Lot 3 - IC3 Subsection – Condeixa / Coimbra Sul

This section has a length of 7.075m of main roadway, 1 junction (Coimbra Sul junction), and two connecting roads totalling 3.539 m (connection 1.1 with a profile similar to the main roadway and connection 1.2), 1.686 m of road reinstatements and 2.600 m of parallel roads.

Highlights:

- Construction of a new bridge over the Ceira River, known as Cabouco Bridge, replacing the previous one near this town and allowing faster access to EN17 and Coimbra for traffic coming from Miranda do Corvo municipality via the existing road network;

- Widening of EN17 between the future Coimbra Sul junction roundabout and the existing Portela roundabout, to increase the capacity of this section.           

The cross-section profile adopted for this section consists of:

- Central reservation consisting of a New Jersey-type rigid barrier (0.6 m wide and 0.8 m high);

- Two left shoulders, adjacent to the central reservation, 1.0 m wide;

- Two unidirectional carriageways, 7.5m wide each, corresponding to two lanes per direction, 3.75m wide each;

- Two right shoulders, 3m wide each, with a pavement overwidth of 0.3m and a cross slope identical to the carriageway.

Lot 4 - IC3 Subsection – Avelar Sul / Avelar

Extending 11.619 km, this south-to-north subsection runs east of the EN110. It begins at the end of the IC3 - Tomar / Avelar Sul subsection, near Maçãs de D. Maria, south of Avelar, and ends north of Avelar, after crossing the Farelo River.

Regarding cross-section profiles, the main roadway has a dual carriageway profile (2x2 lanes) with a platform width of 23.6 m and a central reservation consisting of a New Jersey-type rigid barrier of 0.6 m width.

At the IC8 junction, the cross-section was widened to 21.6 m, with a 0.6 m wide reservation, as it adopted a 2x2 lanes' typical profile. It should be noted that the central reservation widens from 0.6 m to 2m at engineering structure PI5A to accommodate its central pillars. 

Lot 7 - IC8 Section – Proença-a-Nova / Perdigão A23

The IC8 – Proença-a-Nova / Perdigão (A23) section begins immediately after the existing Proença-a-Nova East Junction and ends at the Perdigão Junction on the A23 (IP2).

The IC8 cross-section profile corresponds to the patented elements, i.e., in the main section, it has one lane per direction with the following composition:

- Carriageway width of 7.5 m, with one 3.75 m lane per direction;

- Two right shoulders 2.50m wide, paved, plus 0.75m unpaved, and a 0.6m transition in embankment situations. In excavation situations, reduced concrete ditches 1.2m wide were considered, with a 1m wide transition to the slope;

- At junction areas, the platform was widened to introduce a 2.6m central reservation (two 1.0 m left shoulders and a 0.6 m New Jersey-type barrier);

- In slow lane areas, the existing 3.75m lane is increased by 3.5m corresponding to the slow lane, with the adjacent 2.5m shoulder reduced to 1.5m shoulder.

Lots 9 and 10 - ER238 Section – Cernache do Bonjardim / Sertã-IC8 and EN238 Section – Sertã / Oleiros

This project involved the construction of road sections and associated roadway structures, referred to as roadworks, along the ER 238 subsection – Cernache do Bonjardim / Sertã and the EN 238 subsection – Sertã / Oleiros.

The ER 238 subsection, corresponding to Lot 9, has a length of about 4 km with a single carriageway with two lanes. It includes the construction of 3 at-grade roundabout intersections, 9 reinstatements, 3 underpasses and 3 agricultural crossings.

The EN 238 subsection, associated with Lot 10, has a length of 20.7 km and has a two-lane carriageway. Located in a difficult topography area, it also includes an additional lane for slow vehicles over 8.84 km.

It included the construction of:

- 9 at-grade intersections (2 roundabouts and 7 junctions);

- 35 road reinstatements (national, municipal and rural roads);

- 8 overpasses, 3 underpasses, 13 agricultural crossings and 3 viaducts (with lengths of 195m, 140m and 270m).

At the end of Lot 10, the existing EN 238 was improved over a length of 2.6 km, including works on the pavement wearing course, road technical channel, road signs and safety equipment.