The project, co-financed by European funds, will be carried out in phases to prepare these facilities for the 2027 bathing season, the municipality noted.

The work entails completely replacing all access points to the boardwalks, as well as the connecting points between the road network, parking areas, and the beachfront, it specified.

“The coastal boardwalks are among the municipality’s most exposed structures. Every day, year-round, they face wind, rain, and sand, making wear and tear inevitable. Consequently, their maintenance is an ongoing task,” stated Matosinhos Mayor Luísa Salgueiro, as quoted in the press release.

The municipality noted that this intervention is part of a broader strategy to enhance the municipality’s coastal area—located in the Porto district—involving a total investment of three million euros.

As an example, the council pointed out that, earlier this year, it began creating the North Coast Cycle Path—an exclusive eight-kilometre-long bicycle route along the coast that integrates with the existing boardwalks.

That project also included refurbishing sections of the boardwalks, it added.

Furthermore, the municipality has built access facilities for people with reduced mobility at several local beaches, including adapted pathways, walkways across the sand, and accessible restrooms.

These efforts have earned 12 of the municipality’s beaches the “Accessible Beach” award. In a statement, the Matosinhos PSD also said that, at Wednesday’s public meeting, it would express concern about the cost and frequency of expenses related to repairing, replacing, and refurbishing the coastal boardwalks.

“Regular, scheduled preventive maintenance would allow for the timely correction of minor defects, extend the structures’ lifespan, and avoid major, urgent, and far more costly refurbishment projects,” the party noted.

Consequently, the Social Democrats will call for disclosure of the current condition of the entire boardwalk network, identification of sections that are currently restricted or inaccessible, and the corresponding replacement schedule.

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