The Marão Tunnel

[Mario Ferreira]

The Douro Valley is now closer to the city of Porto

Already considered a major infrastructure to the region, the Marão Tunnel opened at midnight on Sunday, May 7, 2016.

Early this week the portuguese media broadcasted that a total of 17,882 cars crossed the tunnel within the first 24 hours after its oppening.

The project that begun in 2009 was finally accomplished in 2015 at the cost of about € 270 million euros.

With its 5.665 Km (= 3.52 Miles) the Marão Tunnel is currently the longest road tunnel in the whole Iberian Peninsula.

For Pictures pls click here.

[Lisa Stevens]

I am looking forward to a shorter bus trip this year!

-Lisa

[Mario Ferreira]

... and Shorter it will be
I'll see U then Lisa.
Um Abraço
> Mário.

[Andy Velebil]

I am looking forward to a shorter bus trip this year!

-Lisa

No kidding. How much time will it save on the drive, compared to the old route?

[Glenn E.]

No kidding. How much time will it save on the drive, compared to the old route?

Not sure I'm remembering everything correctly, but ...

Before the A4, I think it used to take ~2 hours to get to Vila Real. With the A4 and the new tunnel, I think it's supposed to take ~30 minutes. So a pretty huge time savings.

Edit: that can't be right, according to Google Maps it's ~60 miles via the A4. So... no idea.

[Eric Menchen]

Google maps doesn't have the new roadway yet--shame on them!
But it isn't just the tunnel that saves time, but the new roadway all the way from
41°15'34.4"N 8°01'53.7"W
to
41°16'37.2"N 7°46'07.6"W
Those are the points where the new roadway splits off. According to google, on the old road that distance is 29 km and it takes 23 minutes, so you won't be saving more than 23 minutes. I estimate the new distance at about 25 km, and it is much smoother and straighter.

The actual main tunnel portals are at
41°16'05.2"N 7°56'07.6"W
and
41°16'44.7"N 7°52'10.3"W

[Bradley Bogdan]

I was just looking for it earlier, thanks for pointing it out Eric!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalkz. U

[Rune EG]

Maybe I have the answer!
Emmy and I returned from Douro two days ago, and passed through the tunnel on mid day Wednesday 11th May, four days after opening. The saving is abt 15 minutes, which is a lot on a relatively short distance Douro/Porto airport.

May 2014 we stayed at LBV hotel just outside Pinhao, and drove midday from the hotel straight to Porto airport. Down to Pinhao centre then over the small bridge and up to Sabrosa passing Quinta do Portal continuing straight west to Porto airport. Last year it took 1 hr 50 minutes.

This year it was also mid May, mid day driving, same driver (very little speeding), same size of car and roughly same weather. Time spent 1 hr 35 minutes

[Mario Ferreira]

Maybe I have the answer!
[...] The saving is abt 15 minutes, which is a lot on a relatively short distance Douro/Porto airport. [...]
This year it was also mid May, mid day driving, same driver (very little speeding), same size of car and roughly same weather. [...]

It was said that the average saving was expected to be around 20min. Rune - I wonder whether you are actually a fast driver !? ..
... (hey, I'm kidding ).

[Mario Ferreira]

A major reason for the Marão Tunnel is that drivers can now avoid the IP4 motorway, considered one of the most dangerous roads in the country.

More on the infamous IP4 road here. (wikipedia)