Lisbon Metro will create alternatives so that pedestrian and bicycle traffic between Telheiras and Campo Grande will "never" be interrupted.
The work on the Circular Line in Campo Grande have already started e, last week, Metro de Lisboa informed the press that there would be traffic restrictions in the surrounding area. However, the statement sent to newsrooms made no mention of any changes for pedestrians and cyclists, so Lisboa Para Pessoas sought clarification from the company.
Campo Grande is a important public transport interface - It is home to the city's main suburban bus terminal and one of Lisbon's busiest metro stations. It is therefore an area with a lot of pedestrian traffic. The cycle-pedestrian tunnel that runs under Avenida Padre Cruz is one of the exits from Telheiras and is used daily by both pedestrians and cyclists. This is also where the main cycle path linking the Telheiras neighborhood to the city's business and services hubs runs.
Lisbon Metro assured Lisboa Para Pessoas that the underpass under Avenida Padre Cruz will continue to be available for pedestrians and cyclists. However, "the current pedestrian and cycle paths will be affected by the work between the tunnel and Campo Grande station". This cycle path and the pedestrian area next to it were recently redeveloped during work on the new bus terminal. However, the space will now be used for the new metro viaducts, which will connect the current Green and Yellow lines with a view to the future operation of the Circular Line.
So when the cycle path has to be closed and pedestrian space limited, the Lisbon Metro will create a shared alternative for cyclists and pedestrians next to it, on the road that will be closed to traffic. "Pedestrian and bicycle traffic will never be interrupted"the company explains, adding that "the tunnel that connects Telheiras and Campo Grande is not affected by the works".
Detoured bus stops
The closure of the Avenida Padre Cruz exit to the bus station and stadium area will mean that some buses will have to temporarily change their routes, with passengers leaving in front of the NOS building and under the 2nd Circular viaduct from January 19th for an expected period of 17 months.
The construction of the new Circular line will involve the construction of a new 158-meter viaduct in Campo Grande, which will "close" the ring in Campo Grande. The current Yellow line, on the Campo Grande/Odivelas extension, will also be connected to the current Telheiras section via a 428-meter viaduct located to the north of the existing viaducts.
