According to Correio da Manhã, the projects concern connections over the Erges, Guadiana, and Minho rivers, all discussed at the meeting of the Luso-Spanish Joint Technical Commission on Bridges, which brought together in Madrid the public company Infraestruturas de Portugal and the Spanish Directorate General of Roads.

The Commission dedicated a substantial part of its work to the investment planned for the IC31, a connection that aims to link the A23 to the Spanish border. According to the same source, the central point of this axis will be the construction of a new international bridge over the Erges River, near the Monfortinho Thermal Baths. The future crossing will strengthen the connection between Lisbon and Madrid, since on the Spanish side there is already an expressway linking the capital to Moraleja, located about 20 kilometres from the border.

The newspaper writes that this road corridor could represent a more direct circulation alternative between the two countries, reinforcing cross-border integration in an area where mobility currently depends on longer routes.

Among the three interventions, the new international bridge over the Guadiana River, between Alcoutim and Sanlúcar de Guadiana, is the one that is at the most advanced stage. The publication adds that the agreement between Lisbon and Madrid has already been formalised, with the construction site defined and the estimated investment, which is around 13 million euros. The project also has funding through the Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The same source mentions that this crossing could strengthen the connection between the riverside communities of the two countries, allowing for improved road access in an area marked by long stretches and the absence of direct crossing points.

Also discussed was the analysis of a new feasibility study for a crossing over the Minho River, this time between the town of Caminha and La Guardia, in Spain. The publication explains that this proposal arises in response to the increase in cross-border travel in the northern region and the need to evaluate new connection solutions.

The meeting between Portuguese and Spanish authorities also served to consolidate new international agreements related to other existing crossings. According to Correio da Manhã, technical aspects relating to the bridges over the Guadiana River and the Minho River were discussed, as well as the road-rail bridge between Valença and Tui, one of the main railway connection points between the two countries.

The decisions now aligned allow progress to be made with processes that, at different stages of development, could significantly alter circulation between Portugal and Spain in the coming years.