Portalegre flood damage spurs new Ribeira Grande bridge and river‑pool repairs

The Portuguese government has declared the construction of a new bridge over the Ribeira Grande on EN 245 in the Fronteira municipality a "relevant public interest" project. The existing bridge was destroyed by heavy rains in December 2022. A provisional crossing is already in use, and the new bridge – together with access roads – is planned to start construction in the second half of 2024 with an investment of about five million euros. The project is exempt from a full environmental impact assessment, according to the Portuguese Environment Agency.

Meanwhile, the river pool (Piscina Fluvial) of São Julião in the Portalegre municipality remains severely degraded after the same floods. A resident report notes a destroyed pedestrian bridge, missing or damaged equipment, unsafe bathing areas and loss of the pool’s recreational function. Municipal records from 2023 and 2024 confirm the damage and express safety concerns, but no definitive remediation plan has been announced, and officials have warned that further intervention may not occur.