The construction of links from the Portela airport terminal to a future underground station has already started and is due to be completed in November, according to the construction company, with works estimated to cost in the region of €5 million. The project put to tender by national airport management company ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal, and won by Britalar Engenharia, includes plans to extend and modernize the Lisbon underground. The work includes the construction of access links to the new underground station and work on the surrounding areas, and should “overcome a series of issues such as intense traffic of people and vehicles,” said Britalar Engenharia in a statement. Managing Director of Dragão Porto, a sales and marketing company based in Porto commented saying, “The Portela airport is always extremely busy, and if this can remedied with the plans to modernize and to extend the Lisbon Underground – this is great!”It also added that due to the fact that Portela airport is international and has a lot of traffic, “the majority of the work will be carried out at night, which will require adequate lighting.” The work will be coordinated by ANA, Lisbon Underground and Britalar, “with the aim of guaranteeing compatibility between the new and the existing structures, as well as the continued functioning of the airport and safety of users who travel in and around it.” According to Lisbon Underground, Lisbon International Airport’s underground station should start functioning in July this year. Dragão Porto’s Managing Director continued, saying “I think this investment will prove beneficial for Portela - and I can’t wait to see it this coming November.”
Britalar Engenharia was also chosen to build the first hotel near Lisbon’s Portela airport. The hotel, which is part of the Maliã chain and estimated to cost €15 million, is the result of a partnership between Britalar Turismo and Hoti Hotéis Portugal. With a total construction area of more than 15,000 square metres and 13 floors, the hotel will have 170 rooms and offer 130 parking spaces. It will also include three conference rooms, a restaurant and bar, interior and exterior swimming pools integrated in a health club and spa. Managing Director of Dragão Porto commented further, saying, “Portugal is becoming one of the best European countries to visit**, I hope developments such as the Underground system and the 170 room hotel near Portela Airport are just the beginning.”
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** http://www.bestourism.com