Drainage Project for the Ribeiro das Ameixoeiras stream and rehabilitation of surrounding areas, Póvoas and Meadas.

Póvoa e Meadas – Municipality of Castelo de Vide

Introduction

This project focuses on urban intervention in Póvoa e Meadas, in the municipality of Castelo de Vide, encompassing Largo de Santa Margarida, Rua da Lagem Branca, and Rua do Mercado. The proposal aims to enhance the urban landscape of these spaces through a functional reorganization that prioritizes the connection between the streets, the built heritage, and the watercourse of the Ribeiro das Ameixoeiras stream.

Context and Need

The need for intervention arose due to recurring floods affecting homes in the lowest parts of the village, caused by the high flow of the Ribeiro das Ameixoeiras stream during rainy periods. The project addresses the urgent need to solve rainwater runoff and drainage problems, taking the opportunity to redevelop a public space that lacked functional organization, with disorganized traffic and parking, and a shortage of structured pedestrian areas.

Summary of the Project Completed

The overarching intervention focused on the redevelopment of Largo de Santa Margarida and surrounding streets, structured around the following axes:

• Drainage and Infrastructure: Installation of a new stormwater drainage network, with the construction of culverts and collectors sized for a 10-year return period. The system was designed to direct water directly to the stream, ensuring the protection of residential areas.
• Road and Pedestrian Organization: Definition of a 6.50m wide vehicle traffic lane, complemented by a parking lane for 12 vehicles and 3.00m wide sidewalks. Controlled circulation areas were created to ensure residents’ access to their homes without compromising pedestrian safety.
• Property Enhancement: Rehabilitation of the area surrounding the Santa Margarida Chapel, with the creation of a pedestrian area marked by an irregular grid pavement design. A new continuous staircase was built and a ramp was planned for people with mobility difficulties.
• Integration with the Riverbank: Creation of a leisure area at the southwestern end of the square, where the stream becomes underground, including the installation of a pergola (wooden shelter) and the maintenance of benches.
• Landscaping and Lighting: Planting of tree rows for shading and framing the buildings. The project included a public lighting network with 4.00m decorative luminaires and specific decorative lighting (ground projectors) to highlight the elevations of the chapel and the wooden shelter.

The estimated completion time for all the works was 6 months, resulting in a safer, more organized urban space that is aesthetically integrated into the historical fabric of the town.