Page "Transport in Portugal" Paragraph 4

In 1985, a new government led by the center-right Social Democrats headed by Prime Minister Aníbal Cavaco Silva, came to power in Portugal and began loosening the state's control over economic activity.

After years of slow progress, the government began an extensive investment program to bring the transportation infrastructure up to date.

While some funds were earmarked for railroad and subway companies, the largest share went to highways.

Brisa received a direct capital injection of PTE 17. 7 billion in 1990.

The investment was urgently needed, since traffic volume in Portugal was growing at a faster rate than any other country in the European Union.

Average daily traffic volume increased at a rate about 4. 5 percent more than the gross domestic product each year between 1990 and 1996.

The government kept up its intensive program of annual investments, allowing Brisa's network to grow from in 1990 to in 1995.