Normal traffic has finally been restored in the Grilo Tunnel, after nine months of rehabilitation and modernization work on the underpasses.
The total reopening of the four lanes, in each direction, will take place in phases, starting this week (April 21).
Traffic in the Sacavém-Algés direction is already possible during the day, between 6am and 10pm; in the opposite direction, the lanes will only be fully reopened on April 29, and the work is expected to be completed in the first week of May, when all the restrictions will be lifted.
According to Infraestruturas de Portugal,
This change applies during the daytime period, when traffic is heaviest, between 6am and 10pm, while at night the final paving and signaling work will be carried out, as well as equipment connections and respective tests, which will require the removal of one or two lanes in each direction between 10pm and 6am.”
The work, budgeted at 14 million euros, was carried out by Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP), and included improving the drainage system, new paving, replacing the lighting, ventilation and fire-fighting systems, as well as installing state-of-the-art technology: hazardous material detectors, speed cameras, vehicle counting and classification systems and video monitoring.
The Grilo Tunnel was inaugurated in 1998 and is part of the Olival Basto-Sacavém section of the IC17-CRIL. It currently has an average daily traffic of over 115,000 vehicles, making it one of the most important access points for mobility in this part of the city.
The return to “normality” will ease the constraints experienced in recent months, now offering better safety and comfort conditions for all motorists.