IP3 Motorway Closes for Eight Months: Here's How Coimbra-Viseu Commuters Should Prepare

The Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) has announced extended road closures on the IP3 motorway starting March 6, 2026, affecting travel between Santa Comba Dão, Tondela, and Viseu. Beginning this week, drivers will face single-lane restrictions for up to eight months—a significant change that will require detours via slower alternative routes and careful trip planning.

Why This Matters

• Immediate disruption timeline: Total closures began overnight March 2-3 between Vila Cova/Treixedo and Tondela Sul, with a continuous 36-hour shutdown from March 4-6 between São Miguel de Outeiro and Vila Chã de Sá.

• Eight-month single-lane restrictions: Starting March 6, single-lane operation in both directions is now active on two separate stretches, with no overtaking allowed and reduced speed limits expected to last until November 2026.

• Mandatory detour: The EN2 national road serves as the official alternative, adding approximately 15-20 minutes to typical journeys.

• Completion timeline: The Santa Comba Dão-Viseu section is scheduled to finish in 2027, with the broader IP3 transformation extending until 2034.

Background: The €103 Million Upgrade Project

Portugal's road agency is executing a €103 million contract to transform the IP3 between Santa Comba Dão and Viseu into a modern 2×2-lane motorway, nearly doubling capacity on a corridor linking Coimbra to the interior. The scope includes 19 new overpasses, 17 underpasses, roundabout redesigns, and structural pavement reinforcement across 27.5 kilometers.

Awarded to Ferrovial at a €27 million discount from the baseline budget, the project began in late March 2025. Crews have completed explosive excavation work and are now advancing platform widening, curve corrections, and drainage upgrades. The IP expects the work to reduce travel time between Coimbra and Viseu by 34%—from 65 minutes to 43 minutes—while reducing accident rates and opening economic opportunities for municipalities such as Góis, Arganil, and Vila Nova de Poiares.

This segment is one part of a €502 million, decade-long transformation that will eventually extend motorway-grade infrastructure from Souselas through Penacova and onward to Viseu, with full completion forecast for early 2034. Parallel projects on the Souselas-Penacova and Lagoa Azul-Santa Comba Dão segments remain in environmental review, with construction tenders expected in 2027-2028.

What Triggered the Latest Closures

The recent total closure—running from 9 p.m. Monday through 6 a.m. Friday—is necessary to prepare infrastructure for an eight-month traffic restriction between the Tondela and Viseu nodes. This follows a shorter overnight shutdown March 2-3 that allowed crews to advance duplication work on the 27.5-kilometer stretch.

Since late February, the segment between Tondela Sul and Canas de Santa Maria has operated with one lane in each direction, banning overtaking and enforcing reduced speeds. A similar configuration now applies to the section from Ponte da Ribeira de Asnes to Ponte de Pavia, effective March 6, for an estimated eight months. Both measures aim to accelerate roadbed widening, drainage installation, and bridge modifications while keeping the motorway partially operational.

Impact on Residents, Commuters, and Commerce

For drivers accustomed to the IP3 as a fast east-west corridor, the shift to single-lane operation and mandatory detours via the EN2 creates immediate challenges. Journey times will increase by an estimated 15-20 minutes outside total-closure windows, overtaking becomes impossible, and freight operators must recalibrate schedules and confirm alternate routing with dispatchers. Specific detour considerations include:

• Weight and width constraints differ significantly on the EN2 and municipal roads; heavy vehicle operators should verify load compatibility before departure.

• Congestion points: The EN2 experiences bottlenecks near Tondela and Santa Comba Dão; alternative municipal routes should be programmed into navigation apps as backups.

• Nighttime closures continue to affect residents near construction zones despite IP's efforts to concentrate disruptions during off-peak hours.

Local government and the Viseu Dão Lafões Intermunicipal Community (CIM) have publicly endorsed the project, emphasizing its long-term benefits for safety, territorial cohesion, and regional competitiveness. Merchants and tourism operators face short-term headwinds as visitors navigate detours, yet local officials describe the upgraded corridor as vital for interior commerce and for positioning Viseu and surrounding towns as accessible destinations once construction completes in 2027.

How to Navigate the Construction Zone

Drivers should prioritize the EN2 whenever the IP3 is closed or heavily restricted. Real-time updates on closures and lane configurations are posted by Infraestruturas de Portugal, and local radio stations in Viseu, Tondela, and Santa Comba Dão typically relay alerts.

Key reminders while construction continues:

• No overtaking permitted in single-lane stretches between Tondela Sul and Canas de Santa Maria, and between Ponte da Ribeira de Asnes and Ponte de Pavia.

• Reduced speed limits are enforced with cameras and mobile patrols; traffic violations result in fines and points.

• Plan buffer time: Add 20-30 minutes to typical trip estimates during the eight-month restriction period.

• Heavy vehicles: Confirm EN2 routing with dispatch teams in advance; weight and width restrictions apply.

• Stay informed: Sign up for SMS alerts or follow regional traffic accounts on social media to avoid last-minute disruptions.

Timeline and Next Steps

The project's 870-day execution window began in late March 2025 and now focuses on drainage installation, bridge foundation work, and platform completion. By mid-2026, crews will shift attention to signal installation, road markings, and commissioning new interchanges. Substantial completion is scheduled for late 2027, after which the corridor will operate at full 2×2 capacity with modern shoulders, lighting, and emergency lanes.

Residents in affected areas can voice concerns and seek additional information through regular public meetings held by municipal councils in Santa Comba Dão, Tondela, and Viseu. The CIM Viseu Dão Lafões also accepts submissions and forwards them to the national road agency.

What This Means for You

The next eight months will require adjustment as road restrictions rotate and detours become routine. Residents and businesses relying on the IP3 should:

• Treat the IP3 as unpredictable for time-sensitive trips and keep EN2 routes programmed into navigation apps.

• Plan extra travel time—especially for morning and evening commutes—and adjust business schedules accordingly.

• Monitor official updates from Infraestruturas de Portugal and local municipal sources for closure schedules and detour maps.

• Expect eventual benefits: Once completed in 2027, the upgraded corridor will reduce travel times, lower freight costs, and enhance road safety for the region.

Completion is scheduled for 2027. Until then, residents should expect regular closures and plan alternative routes accordingly. This infrastructure investment represents a significant commitment to regional development and interior connectivity, addressing a longstanding gap in Portugal's transportation network.