The new square

[blue]

I was in Hemmi's the other day, the traffic coming along the in road was travelling far too fast, I'm not a fan of speed humps but I think something should have been put along this road & the road coming down past Sully's to slow the traffic down. Especially as you get so many children coming out of the ice cream shop.

[EMM]

Went into town last night and we were impresssed with the progress since our last visit.
The posts are a great improvement on the shin breaking blocks and the reduction in traffic and the wider pavements is creating much more of a street cafe ambience.
Is it just us or have many restaraunts ganed some extra space for their outdoor tables.

There is no way that large vehicles will get round past soares and with all the posts now erected I think that the traffic scheme is here to stay.

We were amused to see more rhan a couple of motorists stop in the square looking for some where to park ( NB towaway zone outside of CVO Sol ).

Overall a great improvement.

[HampshireRich]

.... Overall a great improvement.

Pleased about that - I have to admit I thought the old square needed a revamp as it was getting "tired" looking.

Still ..... I'll be able to see for myself in a few weeks

[Barry]

They have now placed the stainless steel poles either side of what looked like a temporary link between the in and out roads, across the square, so it is starting to look permanent. Wonder, though, if it was a late decision, since it is a mixture of surfaces, including paving, which is cracking up under the weight of traffic. Maybe they will now dig up the slabs and replace with cobbles? It would also benefit from a defined pedestrian crossing.

[marcoxl5]

I like the square but is it me or are the trees ( or the vessels that they are in ) 'on a wonk'

[Barry]

If you want to see what I was talking about, Steen has posted the latest photo's.

[Rob F]

Well, if this is not horrible, then I do not know what is...

[In-Spectre]

Well, if this is not horrible, then I do not know what is...

It is no longer a square.Looks like a runway strip

[Barry]

With thanks for reproducing the photo's. I cannot pass final judgement until it is pronounced finished, since there is always hope. My comments on progress so far. The original scheme, like it or not, was one square with a coherent design from the off-licence to the beach. In neither of the published plans was a road crossing the middle of the square. What we now have is a reasonable new square close to the beach, a road, and some trees in tubs on a traffic island. The road across has three different surfaces, since it looks like it was never designed to be a road. Some of the surfaces are already cracking up since they were not designed for heavy traffic use. If it was always intended to have traffic crossing half way down the square the design should have reflected this, with the correct surfaces. This smacks of an afterthought, which may yet be corrected. Let us hope. Lest my Victor Meldrew image returns, Rua do Baranco is a great success.

[e-richard]

It is no longer a square.Looks like a runway strip

Thats not such a joke, there are even blue runway lights running down the centre of the path set into the ground

[sanreen]

I love the new in and out roads. So much more space to wander about the town. A big improvement. But I must say I am not impressed with the square It no longer looks like a square. In my opinion they should have just taken away the parking at the square, updated it a bit, more greenery and seats and it would have looked good. But thats my opinion.

[TomUK]

When I posted in May after my visit, I speculated about what the constant heavy traffic would do to the surfacing and it seems from these later posts that it is already cracking up. Not surprising really because the materials were surely designed for pedestrian traffic.

As has been stated, the original artist's impressions didn't show any traffic at all . What's the betting that the circular route currently followed by the traffic will be re-laid with more durable surfacing and pedestrians guided around it by permanent barriers in the interests of safety! Those trees in boxes look very temporary to me!

It just seems that they designed this new layout with it's smart runways and trees without considering what to do with the traffic.

[marcoxl5]

All this negativity is spoiling my perception of what I see to be the nicest vacation destination I have ever had the pleasure to experience.

[EMM]

Its a massive improvment on what was was there before, OK not perfect nothing is but lets wait a little while and see the finished article..

I hope ( predict ) that only limited traffic will be allowed through the square, the majority will be diverted as before on to the out road.

[EckJ]

All this negativity is spoiling my perception of what I see to be the nicest vacation destination I have ever had the pleasure to experience.

I agree we were there 2 years ago and we also think its the nicest vacation destination ever in fact the kids loved it so much that it was them that persuaded us to return this year.
Looking forward to our visit (2 weeks today) very much can't wait to be sitting in the new square soaking up the sun and the atmosphere.