Pontinha extension study underway
Madeira “needs more space” for cruise ships in Funchal, so port expansion remains on the table because it is necessary to consider it if the objective is to continue to grow in the cruise tourism market.
“The increase in Porto is a logical question”, said the Regional President Miguel Albuquerque on the sidelines of the inauguration of an artistic residency space in Câmara de Lobos.
In normal years, Madeira totals around 560,000 passengers disembarking at Pontinha per year, underlined the Chief Executive, which has “very considerable effects” on the regional economy.
He stressed that the increase of the Pontinha pier is essential for the North Wharf (on the right side of the photo above) to be operational and even for the protection of the seafront of the city of Funchal. “When there is money and conditions, we will go ahead with this increase”, added Albuquerque, who understands that port expansion “should have” funding from the Republic despite it not having considered its inclusion in the PRR (Regional budget).
In this context, Albuquerque understands that the priority is the construction of the new hospital, for which funding of €158 million was recently secured.
There is a preliminary study underway for the port expansion, from which the cost estimate for the undertaking will also emerge, so financing will only be considered afterwards. The president of the Regional Government admits, however, that the costs could exceed between 100 and 150 million initially foreseen.
COVID-19 in Madeira: updates can be found in an earlier post
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