WRITTEN QUESTION E-2127/96 by Honório Novo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (3 August 1996)

Subject: Construction of access roads to the Freixo Bridge (Porto) - measures to minimize environmental impact

In her answer of 7 March 1996 to my Written Question E-133/96 ((OJ C 173, 17.6.1996, p. 26. )), Commissioner Bjerregaard stated that the Commission did not have in its possession any information on which to base a reply and that it had therefore contacted the Portuguese authorities in order to obtain the necessary information.

Four months have elapsed. Has the Commission obtained information as to whether or not the measures recommended in the conclusion to the final report by the Assessment Committee which analysed the planned measures for minimizing the environmental impact of the building of the access roads to the Freixo Bridge were carried out by the time the building work was completed? If these measures were not carried out in time, is the Portuguese Government prepared to carry them out in the near future? If so, by what date does the Portuguese Government expect to complete them?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (30 September 1996)

The Portuguese authorities have provided the Commission with information concerning the carrying out of the measures recommended in the report by the Environmental Impact Assessment Committee for the work on the 'Ponte do Freixo (Freixo Bridge) -Carvalhos' section of the 'Itinerário Principal No 1 (IP1)'. According to this information, the following measures have been taken:

- local and noise protection: land improvement to protect the 'Quinta dos Frades'; construction of the wall recommended for Part C of the 'Nó dos Carvalhos'; land improvement on the east side of the section and an increase in the height of the wall on the west side;

- landscaping of the earthworks near the 'Quinta dos Frades': planting of trees and shrubs;

- archeological monitoring of the work (in particular at 'Castro de Baiza'): carried out by Etnos and checked by the IPPAR (Portuguese Archeological and Historical Heritage Institute);

- easement alongside the roadway: 7 metres;

- landscaping of the roadway and civil engineering works: the project has not yet been submitted to the Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources (MARN), among other things because of the alterations necessitated by suggestions made by the management of the 'Parque Biológico Municipal de Vila Nova de Gaia';

- acquisition of land between the 'Parque Biológico' and the IP1: negotiations in progress between the Junta Autónoma das Estradas (JAE) and the municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia;

- prohibition to build: compliance with the 50 metre rule laid down in Decree-Law 15/94; possibility of increasing the building-free area up to 100 metres under consideration;

- air and noise pollution monitoring programmes: to be drawn up after completion of the work;

- on-the-spot visit by the Assessment Committee planned shortly.

It is clear from the information provided by the Portuguese authorities that they are aware of the need to complete the measures recommended in the report by the Environmental Impact Assessment Committee. The Commission has therefore urged the Portuguese authorities to inform it of the steps taken to rectify the situation.