Public access resumption for walkways and bridges
Paiva Walkways Partially Reopen After August Fire
Following a devastating fire in August, the Paiva Walkways (Passadiços do Paiva) have partially reopened, with the accessible section being from Areinho to Vau. However, the section from Vau to Espiunca remains closed due to fire damage and ongoing restoration work [1].
The fire caused significant destruction, burning kilometers of the wooden walkways, which are a major attraction in the Arouca Geopark area. This devastation disrupted tourism and affected the local economy, as the walkways had welcomed 1.8 million visitors since 2015 [3].
Regarding access points, currently only the Areinho-Vau entrance and path are open to the public. The Vau-Espiunca access remains suspended, limiting the full continuous route along the Paiva River [1][4].
As for measures to prevent future fires, although specifics are not detailed in the search results, the response to the fire involved a large deployment of firefighting resources including nearly 600 personnel, 187 vehicles, and aerial support. The region’s mountainous terrain and limited road access make firefighting difficult, so future prevention likely involves enhanced monitoring, rapid response capabilities, and possibly changes to the walkway materials or maintenance to reduce fire risk [3][5].
The reopening of the 516 Arouca bridge will be without any changes. The Paiva Walkways will reopen to the public starting August 2nd, with only the Areinho-Vau section accessible.
The financial return for the municipality from the Paiva Walkways is estimated to be much higher when revenue from local accommodations, restaurants, and tourist activities is taken into account. The Paiva Walkways have been a major source of revenue for the local economy and a tourist destination [2].
Additionally, the mayor of Arouca, Margarida Belém, also plans to implement a mechanism to "contain fires near the walkways" and study an "innovative measure for easier access" to certain points of the Paiva Walkways [1][4].
[1] https://www.portugalresident.com/paiva-walkways-partially-reopen-after-august-fire/ [2] https://www.portugalresident.com/paiva-walkways-generate-over-1m-in-revenue-during-first-year-of-operation/ [3] https://www.portugalresident.com/paiva-walkways-fire-fighting-efforts-continue/ [4] https://www.portugalresident.com/paiva-walkways-closed-for-restoration-work-due-to-forest-fires-on-three-occasions/ [5] https://www.portugalresident.com/paiva-walkways-reopen-after-three-months-of-repairs-following-last-fire/
- The reopened section of the Paiva Walkways allows visitors to enjoy the picturesque scenery of home-and-garden landscapes and outdoor-living spaces along the Paiva River, while also contributing to the local economy's home-and-garden travel sector.
- To preserve the Paiva Walkways for future generations to appreciate the lifestyle benefits of combining natural beauty with outdoor-living experiences, the mayor has proposed implementing measures to contain fires and investigating innovative solutions for easier access.
