A25 speed limit reduced to 100 km/h across all sections

Since the start of this month, the A25 (Beiras Litoral and Beiras Alta motorway) has been given a new speed limit of 100 km/h across every section, whereas it was previously 120 km/h.

Aveiro councils question the A25 speed limit change

The move has not gone down well with local authority leaders in Aveiro, who are demanding clarification from the Government. “It’s incongruent. We can’t understand what the reason is,” says Jorge Almeida, President of the Intermunicipal Community of the Aveiro Region (CIRA).

In a statement, CIRA said the change came as a “surprise”, stressing that neither the organisation nor the affected councils were informed in advance. According to the Community, lowering the limit may bring negative economic, social and tourism effects, including visitors spending less time in the region.

CIRA supports 100 km/h only on specific stretches and in urban areas

CIRA said it is not against the measure in principle, but only on certain sections and within built-up areas. “We argue that reducing the speed only makes sense in urban areas, to avoid the installation of barriers or acoustic panels. The Municipality of Aveiro, for example, proposed a 100 km/h limit between the Esgueira junction and the Pirâmides junction, with signage and a speed camera, but never received a reply,” the statement adds.

Call for urgent explanations from Ministry, IP, IMT and ASCENDI

Given the situation, CIRA appealed to all the bodies involved - the Ministry, Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP), IMT and ASCENDI - to provide “urgent explanations”, and asked for immediate action to restore the standard motorway speed limit.

A25 tolls in the Aveiro Region despite ex-SCUT toll abolition

In addition, the organisation points out that tolls are still being charged on the A25, specifically in the Aveiro Region. This is despite a decree being enacted last year that removed tolls on several former SCUT roads from 1 January. The A25 motorway was included.