The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport said today that the Regional Government will increase the funds allocated for the improvement and rehabilitation of roads, doubling the amount provided for 2016 compared to this year.

Vítor Fraga spoke at the end of hearing at the Committee on General Policy of the Legislative Assembly on the Plan and Budget proposals for 2016. The government official stressed the "increase in investment for the improvement and rehabilitation of regional roads, with an overall allocation of about 21.7 million Euros; this represents the doubling of investment in these areas regarding 2015."

The Regional Secretary also stressed that this measure reflects the exceptional scheme that the Azores managed to get from the European Union. The Region will receive 16 million for the improvement of regional roads, namely the interventions in the regional road network. This takes place after the National government "stated that roads were a negative priority and that Portugal, including the Azores, did not need more roads."

"We have managed to counteract this trend and, as a result of this exception regime, we have achieved a very significant increase in terms of investment options for the negotiation and construction of regional roads," said Vítor Fraga.

The Regional for Tourism and Transport also stated that the Government of the Azores transposes to this Plan, which was developed fully in line with social partners, "the major actions and options for the year 2016."