The Mayors of Vila Real de Santo António and Castro Marim, speaking at a Parliamentary Commission in Lisbon, said the ongoing roadworks, which have date back many years, are seriously hampering the development of these cities and have negatively affected tourism.

Algarve MP for the Bloc, João Vasconcelos meanwhile said tolls on the A22 motorway have resulted in a sharp increase in traffic accidents and seen economic progress of recent decades nullified.