Several streets will be closed to traffic next to Marquês de Pombal, in Lisbon, between 5 p.m. on Saturday and 5 a.m. on Sunday due to Benfica’s match in the national football championship, the municipality announced.
“In the event that celebrations of Sport Lisboa e Benfica (SLB) take place today in Marquês de Pombal”, several “permanent traffic restrictions are planned in that square and the surrounding streets”, as is the case with the tunnels of Entrecampos and Campo Pequeno, in the direction of Campo Grande — Saldanha, the Lisbon City Council (CML) said in a statement.
Access from the Rotunda de Entrecampos to Avenida da República will also be closed, as will the central and side roads of that avenue, and all other arteries that converge there will be restricted.
According to the CML, on Avenida Duque d’Ávila, the direction of traffic between Avenida da República and Avenida 5 de Outubro will be changed “to allow vehicles to leave the private car park on Avenida da República”.
Traffic will also be prevented from going around Praça Duque de Saldanha, circulating on the central roads and accessing Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo, a thoroughfare where traffic circulation is also prohibited and intersections are prevented.
Avenida Duque de Loulé (between the intersection with Rua Luciano Cordeiro and Praça do Marquês de Pombal), Avenida António Augusto de Aguiar (between Rua Marquês da Fronteira and Avenida Duque de Loulé), Avenida Sidónio Pais, Alameda Edgar Cardoso, the tunnel on Rua Marquês de Subserra, Rua Alexandre Herculano, Rua Braancamp and Rua do Conde de Redondo.
All arteries that merge with these avenues and streets will be subject to restrictions, the municipality warns.
Rua Joaquim António de Aguiar will be closed between Rua da Artilharia 1 and Praça do Marquês de Pombal, and the Marquês tunnel will be completely closed to road traffic in both directions.
In Praça do Marquês de Pombal, traffic is prohibited in both directions and Avenida da Liberdade is closed, with only crossings allowed between Rua das Pretas and Praça da Alegria and between Largo da Anunciada and Travessa da Glória.
On Friday, the Public Security Police (PSP) warned that the Marquês de Pombal, Parque and Picoas metro stations will also be closed from 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The celebration of a possible victory for Benfica also forced the closure of the Lisbon Book Fair, in Parque Eduardo VII, from 11 p.m. to 5 p.m., for security reasons, forcing booksellers to cancel dozens of events and launches scheduled for this Saturday.
Benfica’s last game in the league, against Santa Clara, is scheduled for 6pm at Estádio da Luz.
Benfica and FC Porto enter the decisive round of the 89th edition of the I Liga with a difference of just two points, with the ‘dragons’ waiting for a ‘miraculous’ comeback to take the title.
The ‘eagles’ win the 38th title in their history when they win at home against the already relegated Santa Clara, but a draw is also possible, provided the ‘blue and whites’ do not beat Vitória de Guimarães at the same time and surpass the difference of 11 goals in favor of Benfica in the count between goals scored and goals against.
Clube da Luz also celebrates a defeat, as long as FC Porto does not beat Vitória de Guimarães.
PSP has already said that “in the event that celebrations are held for the Bwin Liga Champion”, it will carry out a special operation so that the celebrations “take place in a festive and safe environment”.
Police advise all supporters to have “behavior and attitude appropriate to a sporting and festive environment, with respect for all participants, avoiding violence”.
Source: DN
