Cities Network in Inland Regions: The Induced Opportunities of a new Motorway

Abstract

This article is about the gains of promoting cities’ net- works through the construction of motorways in inland re- gions. It is based on the Portuguese case of Beira Interior region (BIR). The main purpose is to analyze the socio- economic added value to the BIR of the Motorway A23, namely: The tourism opportunities linked to natural and cultu- ral heritage; The organization of the cities in networks associated with a socio-economical specialization. The BIR includes a group of areas which are classified and protected, such as the Serra da Estrela, with a strong environmental importance on a national level, which pro- vides the potential for tourism and associated activities, to which the A23 is an indispensable element of access, given the lack of other alternatives such as efficient rail- ways. The accessibility created by the A23 transforms these areas of protected countryside, associated with the protection of nature into attractive places for tourists, in a region marked by low density, an ageing population and uncompetitive businesses. The tourists’ attraction during all the year allowed by the A23 is a decisive factor for the local economy, with regard to the employment and wealth creation in a region, where the employment alter- natives are scarce. The A23 provides gains in terms of time distances in journeys between the region’s cities, in particular for those going to and from their place of work on a daily basis. This urban multi-polar network integrates a group of urban conglomerates, villages, towns, and some cit- ies, which include Castelo Branco, Covilhã and Guarda which are the main anchors of the population and the poles which promote the development and social-eco- nomic dynamism. The A23 is the element for articulation between them, promoting their network functioning, the circulation of people and goods and the functional spe- cialization of economic sectors in favor of quality and competitiveness on a national and international level, giv- en the proximity of the frontier.