Under the motto ''A new Centre. A New City'', the rehabilitation works of the urban centre of Famalicão are starting in what will be one of the biggest public investments ever in the requalification of a public city space. More than eight million euros will be invested in a city that is more friendly to people, the environment and local commerce.
The intervention will last about a year and will inevitably lead to constraints and disturbances in the day-to-day life, for whom the mayor, Paulo Cunha, asks for the tolerance of the famalicenses. "The success of this intervention depends on the understanding of the citizens, particularly those who live and work in the area of influence of the work in progress. But all these inconveniences and inconveniences will result in an enormous gain for the return that the work will bring to the municipality, particularly to the city of Famalicão".
The construction will cover the entire urban block located between the squares D. Maria II and Mouzinho de Albuquerque and adjacent streets, providing them with more and better social areas and, at the same time, more spaces for pedestrians and for soft modes of transport. It will be "a more attractive, sustainable and accessible urban centre, with more mobility, more commerce, more parking, more environment, more security and more life", says Paulo Cunha.
"It is a deep intervention in the heart of the city that will modernize Famalicão, creating conditions for local commerce to work better, for us to have more mobility, for security to be part of our daily life and above all to create new reasons and better conditions for our city to be more enjoyed, not only by those who live and work here, but also to be captivating so that many can visit us".
"A vital area for Vila Nova de Famalicão and for the famalicenses who deserve a work of this dimension will be intervened". "This is a project of excellence that will allow building in that area a very qualified area for the future of our municipality", explains Paulo Cunha, reminding that the intervention, included in the Strategic Plan for Urban Development, was the subject of a broad public participation, and the final project counted with the contribution of famalicenses. "It is a bold project, which we believe goes against what is the will of the famalicenses, from the merchants to the citizens, to the people who live in the city area and to everyone who attends it".
Generally speaking, the intervention will allow the expansion to the north and south of Praça D. Maria II, with the elimination of car traffic from both tops, and the requalification of all surrounding arteries that will have a unique profile of shared circulation, with priority for the pedestrian. Mouzinho de Albuquerque Square, corresponding to the former Campo da Feira, a very degraded area of the city, will be completely renovated with the organization of the parking area and the valorisation of the riverside bank of Pelhe River.
The expected results are an improvement in the quality of life of the resident population, a greater attractiveness of the city, reinforcement of the pedestrian and cyclable network complemented with the use of public transport, environmental improvement and qualification of spaces for public use.
From the conclusion of series of interventions, it will then be possible for Famalicenses and visitors to the city to leave their cars just a few metres from the centre and experience the public space in a pedestrian and social way. "It is a whole new urban paradigm that will be enhanced in the central nucleus of Vila Nova de Famalicão that will allow the enjoyment of public space with a much higher quality of life than the existing one".
The work is co-financed by Norte 2020, through the ERDF - European Regional Development Fund.