Portugal

Area code 351Common abbreviation PLast updated 28-3-2009
Road classSyntax explanationAdministrative subordinationSub classesZonesSystemRemarks
European roadE[0-9]<2-3>EuropeSee Europe
Motorway (auto-estrada) A(E)[0-9]<1-2>nationalsequentialSequential exit numbers on all motorways and some IP and IC roads
Itinerário PrincipalIP[1-8]nationalIP1-3 north-south, IP4-8 east-west
Itinerário ComplementarIC[0-9]<1-2>national1-dsequential
2-d
National road (Estrada Nacional)(E)N[0-9]<1-3>{-[0-9]<1-2>}nationalsequentialNumbers <400. Highest suffix 14
Local road (Estrada Municipal)(E)M[0-9]<3-4>{-[0-9]}nationalsequential>400
Minor road (Caminho Municipal)CM[0-9]<3-4>{-[0-9]}nationalsequential
Madeira and each of the Azores have their own separate road numbering systems, see region table.
General description:
Motorways:
All numbers 1-14 except 11 exist (though some are only planned so far). The A1 is the main road from Lisboa to Porto, which was completed around 1995 (short sections near the cities are much older).
IP and IC roads:
Most IP roads also have an A or N number (and/or an E number), but many IC roads do not have any other number. No road has both an IP and an IC number. There is one road with 5 numbers: A2, E1, E90, IP1, IP7.
IP and IC roads are usually motorways or roads with motorway characteristics, but not always.
IP roads are main through routes, and can be compared to E roads: they generally follow several A and N roads and are usually long routes. The IP1 goes from the Spanish border north of Porto to Lisboa and continues to the Spanish border near Ayamonte. It coincides with the E(0)1 everywhere. The IP2 is another main north-south connection. The IP3 is from Vila Real to Figueira da Foz (also mostly north-south). The IP4-8 are major east-west connections. Some of these roads are built only partly.
Some IC numbers have long routes, like the IC2 which will probably eventually lead from Porto to Lisboa. Most of them are only local motorway-like roads, like the IC16 and IC17 near Lisboa.
National roads:
There is no clear system of subclasses. Lower numbers generally denote longer routes, but some 1-digit numbers are very minor routes, while some 3-digit numbers (even with a suffix) are for major roads.
Municipal roads:
These usually do not appear on maps. They are usually signposted in black on white but sometimes also in black on yellow.
Road signs:
Road typeBackgroundTextRoad numbers
ClassBackgroundText
MotorwaysBlueWhiteABlueWhite
ExpresswaysGreenWhiteIPRedWhite
Other roadsWhiteBlackNWhiteBlack
Special destinations (museum, zoo, stadium etc.)YellowBlackOther numbers appear as ordinary text (generally black text on a white background)
OrangeBlack
BrownWhite
The 'E' (which stands for estrada) is usually omitted (AE is denoted as A, EN as N, EM as M) but there are exceptions. In particular, EN occurs frequently on signs.
Consistency is poor: upper- and lowercase are used in a haphazard way, colours vary and different styles and lay-outs are used.
History: The N and M numbers are probably quite old. IP and IC numbers were introduced in the 1990's.
Named roads:
A9 = CREL = Circular Regional Externa de Lisboa
IC17 = CRIL = Circular Regional Interna de Lisboa
Sources and links: Various maps and atlases

    Official sites:
  1. Auto-Estradas do Norte
  2. BRISA Auto-estradas de Portugal
  3. Auto-Estradas SCUT da COSTA DE PRATA
    Other links:
  4. Via Verde
  5. Roads in Portugal
  6. Estradas de Portugal
  7. Mapas Sapo
    Other pages within this site:
  8. Europe
  9. Road sign colours

Region table (islands)

IslandSyntaxSub classes
MadeiraR[12][01][0-9]R1[01][0-9]
R2[01][0-9]
AzoresSão MiguelER[1-7]-[12]^a
FaialEN[12]-[12]^a
PicoER[1-3]-2^a
São JorgeER[12]-2^a
GraciosaER[1-3]
TerceiraER[12]-1^a
FloresEN1-2^a
Santa MariaNo road numbering


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