The planned funding for the Estrada das Ginjas has been lost, and the Regional Government currently has no financial alternative to proceed with the work. Miguel Albuquerque, President of the Regional Government, revealed that the project was part of PRODERAM, but the dragging legal case exceeded the available deadlines.
"The Estrada das Ginjas is a true disgrace. It's the story of Portugal at its finest," stated Albuquerque, criticizing the legal actions that prevented the intervention. The project is complete, but the funding "got lost" while the case awaits a judicial decision.
Albuquerque rejects the idea that the intervention would harm Laurisilva, arguing that one of its objectives was the ecological recovery of the area. The current road, opened over three decades ago, lacks adequate drainage, causing damage during heavy rainfall. The project aimed to rectify this by creating drainage systems and providing an alternative emergency route for São Vicente, crucial during fires, alongside tourism and native vegetation support.
The Regional President criticized those responsible for the legal initiatives that blocked the work, deeming the current legal framework allows public investments to be stalled for years without timely decisions. There is no immediate prospect of reviving the project, as the legal case must be concluded first. Albuquerque recalled that the Estrada das Ginjas was part of the electoral program, legitimized by voters, and that the judicial blockade harms São Vicente and Madeira.
