A1 closed between kilometres 198 and 189 near Coimbra: alternative routes via A8/A17/A15 and IC2

The closure of the A1 motorway section between kilometres 198 and 189 (the Coimbra Norte and Coimbra Sul junctions) has forced drivers travelling between the North and the South of Portugal to use alternative routes.

With no confirmed reopening date - the Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, has said it could take “weeks” - Brisa Concessão Rodoviária is advising two main options to bypass the closed stretch near Casais, Coimbra: the Coastal Corridor (A8, A17 and A15) and the IC2.

Alternative routes recommended by Brisa Concessão Rodoviária

Coastal Corridor (A8/A17/A15)

Along the coast, the most organised alternative with the greatest capacity to handle diverted traffic is the A8/A17/A15 corridor, depending on your direction of travel:

• South–North: Drivers should take the A8 (West) or use the A15 to join the A17, which provides a direct coastal link up to the Aveiro area, where they can rejoin the A1 or continue via the A29.
• North–South: The same route applies in reverse, with traffic diverted in the Aveiro/Mira area towards Figueira da Foz and Leiria via the A17.

IC2 through the Coimbra area

The IC2 is the quickest fallback for anyone who needs to travel close to the city of Coimbra. However, given the large volumes being diverted from the A1, the IC2 may suffer heavy slowdowns and long queues, particularly at peak times.

Repairs may take weeks

The A1 was closed in both directions between kilometres 198 and 189 after a dyke burst on the bank of the River Mondego, creating a risk that the motorway surface could collapse - something that, in fact, occurred around three hours after the section was shut.

Speaking to SIC Notícias, the Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, described the situation as “absolutely extraordinary” and said it would take several weeks to repair the damage on what is the country’s main motorway.

“Until the waters go down, it is not possible to carry out the underlying repair. It will certainly take weeks for us to get this infrastructure back in service for the Portuguese people,” said Miguel Pinto Luz.