Brava: Drivers and residents ask for “more seriousness and responsibility” in the execution of works in Fajã d´Água

Drivers and residents of Fajã d´Água, on Brava Island, today asked for “more seriousness and responsibility” from the entities responsible for carrying out the works on the section of road connecting to the locality.

The locality has been completely isolated since the 21st of January, following a landslide that took part of the road, and soon afterwards, an alternative road was built for the circulation of people from that locality and for visitors who, even after isolation, they move to the area and on the 19th of March, the road was reopened after some interventions, thus improvising a carriageway.

After a month of operation, this past April, drivers complained about the danger that this section began to pose for users and residents, since, they claim, maintenance was not carried out during the period.

In early May, the Minister of Infrastructure paid a visit to Brava Island and according to the mayor of Brava, Francisco Tavares, in statements to Inforpress, the minister “determined the start of works to restore normal connections to the locality and safely”.

However, in statements to the press, residents and drivers complain about the conditions that began, arguing that "these are not the appropriate conditions required by a work of this magnitude".

João Brito, a square driver who makes the journey every day, said that there are four workers at the site, but they are working with shovels and pickaxes, which is posing a greater danger, as they are digging in the base, putting the part that was backfilled with earth in danger.

According to this driver, the rainy season is approaching and if measures are not taken with this work, the situation is becoming more dangerous and the area runs the risk of returning to a new isolation.

Likewise, Roberto Mendes, another driver who makes the route, stressed that the situation is increasingly complicating.

“This is a job that must be done with machines because time is short, the rainy season is approaching and the danger is increasing”, he vented, opining that urgent thought should be given to building an alternative route because the road current is not being safe anymore.

In addition, he underlined that when the cars are loaded they can go up or down without major problems, but when they are empty the situation is ridiculous because they keep skating.

In this sense, he asks the Government, the city council and the competent authorities to take the necessary measures and to take this situation with “more seriousness and responsibility”.

Likewise, Eugénia Tavares, a resident of the community, showed her concern with the work being done, which is endangering everyone who travels on that road and has to go through the section.

“The rainy season is approaching and we will be isolated again”, he said, recalling that the bridge for the passage of water is obstructed, which is yet another aggravating factor for this situation, predicting that the area “will go into isolation again in Few months".

And even the workers who are in this place, according to this resident, are in great danger, because if they move a “wrong” stone, the other part on top can fall and they have nowhere to run or escape.

“The Government or whoever has the right has to see this situation well”, concluded the same source.

On Wednesday, the 7th, the mayor, Francisco Tavares, in an interview with Inforpress announced that the works had already started, without advancing in what ways, but acknowledged that “it will not be an easy work to do”.

He added that it is an area of about 65 meters, but that it requires heavy machinery and the construction of walls that at certain points exceed 10 meters in height, requiring that the base itself start with at least three meters in width.