“The relocation is scheduled to begin on March 25th, for a period of four months, always dependent on the progress of the works,” the company, responsible for the project that is part of the new Ruby Line of the metro, explained to Lusa.

In a written response, Metro do Porto emphasises that this measure “has always been clearly agreed upon” with the neighbourhood residents' association, with whom it has been in dialogue, and is included in the Decision on the Environmental Conformity of the Execution Project (DCAPE).

Metro has been “working towards finding relocation solutions tailored to the characteristics of each of the 13 households involved in this operation,” to guarantee “total conditions of safety, comfort, and dignity” in the homes where they will stay while the works make it less safe for them to continue living in their homes in the neighbourhood.

The initial contact to propose two temporary relocation solutions took place in February, the company clarified, with residents having the option of choosing their new place of residence themselves or allowing the company to choose, with “all relocation costs borne” by Metro do Porto.

On March 3rd, the CDU of Porto had requested “dignity” for the residents affected by the construction of the Ferreirinha bridge, calling for “fair solutions” for those who have to leave their homes due to the risks posed by the bridge deck.

The PCP/PEV coalition had requested that residents be rehoused “near the neighbourhood,” with full support for transporting goods, written relocation guarantees, payment for services, and other assistance.

The Ruby Line, with 6.4 kilometres and eight stations, includes a new crossing over the Douro River, the D. Antónia Ferreira bridge "a Ferreirinha," which will be exclusively reserved for the metro, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic.

In Gaia, the planned stations for the Ruby Line are Santo Ovídio, Soares dos Reis, Devesas, Rotunda, Candal, and Arrábida, and in Porto, Campo Alegre and Casa da Música.

The project must be completed by the end of 2026, but a source from Metro do Porto has already admitted to Lusa that the bridge is only expected to be finished in 2027.

The project has a cost of €487.9 million, financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and the State Budget (OE).