The orders of Engineers and Economists defended today that the dual solutions for the new airport compromise adequate economic and social development and maintain that, of the solutions studied so far, Alcochete is the best option.
“The Order of Engineers and the Order of Economists do not see themselves in dual solutions that, in their opinion, compromise the adequate economic and social development of Portugal”, defended the two organizations, in a joint position on the new airport solution, presented to the end of a conference in Lisbon. In the joint position, the records refer that “to date, of the options studied and given the structuring and definitive solution desired for the country, one of the options was already desired as the best”, referring to Alcochete, who has been defended by the two entities as the way forward.
The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Pedro Nuno Santos, announced, at the end of the Council of Ministers, that the Technical Commission that will carry out the strategic environmental assessment of the new Lisbon airport will study five solutions, including single locations and dual solutions .
This is a solution in which Humberto Delgado airport is the main airport and Montijo as a complement, a second in which Montijo progressively acquires the status of main and Humberto Delgado as a complement, a third in which Alcochete completely replaces Humberto Delgado airport , a fourth in which this airport will be the main one and Santarém the complementary one and a fifth in which Santarém will completely replace Humberto Delgado.
Even so, the two cars pointed out that the announced methodology to choose the location of the new airport deserves their agreement, “provided that it is based on reasoned technical and economic analysis, in the sense of not delaying the solution any longer.” The orders advocate for the country to position itself as a “’hub’ [plataforma de conexão] international airport, given its geographical and historical-strategic location, as a bridge between Europe, Africa and America”.
The entities also pointed out that “the national interest must prevail in the choice of the future national airport solution.” “The two professional orders make themselves available to interact with the public and political decision makers, either during the process of strategic evaluation of the solutions that are considered, or in the process of implementing the solution that best defends the national interest” , they stressed.
The Government has approved today in the Council of Ministers a resolution that determines the strategic environmental assessment of the new Lisbon airport. Thus, the executive determined to carry out a strategic environmental assessment to choose the location, “through an independent technical commission that will have a general coordinator, at the proposal of three personalities.” This work is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
In addition, a bill was approved that clarifies the intervention of the municipalities in the “procedures for the construction, expansion or modification of an aerodrome, in order to clarify that in the prior evaluation procedure for the feasibility of the construction of airports, the opinions of the municipal councils are not binding”, said André Moz Caldas, Secretary of State for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
Source: Observadora
