© OledjioVasco Da Gama Bridge 1998
Vasco Da Gama Bridge 1998
The Bridge
The Vasco da Gama Bridge is one of two that span the Tagus River to connect Lisbon with the south and east of Portugal. It is a cable-stayed bridge close to the Lisbon shore and a long viaduct extending over 10km across the river towards Montijo. It alleviates congestion in the capital city and of the Tagus River Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril).
The bridge was opened in 1998 in time for the World Expo in Lisbon and named after the Portuguese explorer who was the first European to reach India by sea, from the Atlantic Ocean.
Vasco Da Gama Bridge
Cable-stayed bridge with a long viaduct to the east
Key Facts
Six-lane motorway
81 piers in the Tagus River
Location
Lisbon, Portugal
Across the Tagus River
Consulting Engineers
Armando Rito (designer)
Michel Virlogeux (engineer)
Charles Lavigne (architect)
Description
Cable-stayed suspension bridge
420m main span
17.2km total length
Main contractors
Lusoponte, a consortium of Portuguese, British and French companies headed by Campenon Bernard
Construction
Began in February 1995
Opened 29 March 1998
Other long-span bridges
