Vasco da Gama Bridge

Bridge in Lisbon, Portugal

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Vasco da Gama Bridge

Aerial view of the bridge

Coordinates| 38°45′43″N 9°02′35″W﻿ / ﻿38.762°N 9.043°W﻿ / 38.762; -9.043
Carries| Six road lanes of  IP 1 A 12
Crosses| Tagus River
Locale|

* Sacavém, north of Lisbon (right/north bank)
* Alcochete and Montijo (left/south bank)

Official name| Ponte Vasco da Gama
Owner| Portuguese Republic
Maintained by| Lusoponte (1994–2030)[1][2]
Characteristics
Design| Cable-stayed, viaducts
Total length| 12.345 km (7.671 mi)[3][4]
Width| 30 m (98 ft)
Height| 148 m (486 ft) (pylon)[5]
Longest span| 420 m (1,380 ft)
History
Architect| Michel Virlogeux, Alain Montois, Charles Lavigne and Armando Rito [pt][6]
Designer| Armando Rito
Construction start| February 1995[4]
Construction end| March 1998[4]
Opened| 29 March 1998; 26 years ago (29 March 1998)
Statistics
Toll|

* Northbound: €3.20–€13.55[7]
* Southbound: toll-free

Location

The Vasco da Gama Bridge (Portuguese: Ponte Vasco da Gama) is a cable-stayed bridge flanked by viaducts that spans the Tagus River in Parque das Nações in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.

It is the second longest bridge in Europe, after the Crimean Bridge,[8] and the longest one in the European Union. It was built to alleviate the congestion on Lisbon's 25 de Abril Bridge, and eliminate the need for traffic between the country's northern and southern regions to pass through the capital city.[9]

Construction began in February 1995; the bridge was opened to traffic on 29 March 1998, just in time for Expo 98, the World's Fair that celebrated the 500th anniversary of the discovery by Vasco da Gama of the sea route from Europe to India.

Along with the 25 de Abril Bridge, the Vasco da Gama is one of two bridges that span the Tagus River in Lisbon.

## Description

[edit]

Vasco da Gama Bridge

The bridge carries six road lanes, with a speed limit of 120 km/h (75 mph), the same as that on motorways, except on one section which is limited to 100 km/h (60 mph). On windy, rainy, and foggy days, the speed limit is reduced to 90 km/h (56 mph). The number of road lanes will be enlarged to eight when traffic reaches a daily average of 52,000.

Bridge and access road sections

1. North access roads: 945 m (3,100 ft)
2. North viaduct: 488 m (1,601 ft)
3. Expo viaduct: 672 m (2,205 ft); 12 sections
4. Main bridge: main span: 420 m (1,378 ft); side spans: 203 m (666 ft) each (total length: 829 m or 2,720 ft); cement pillars: 150 m (492 ft)-high; free height for navigation in high tides: 45 m (148 ft);
5. Central viaduct: 6.351 km (3.95 mi); 80 pre-fabricated sections 78 m (256 ft)-long; 81 pillars up to 95 m (312 ft)-deep; height from 14 m (46 ft) to 30 m (98 ft)
6. South viaduct: 3.825 km (2.38 mi); 45 m (148 ft) sections; 84 sections; 85 pillars
7. South access roads: 3.895 km (2.42 mi); includes the toll plaza (18 gates) and two service areas

## Construction and cost

[edit]

The $1.1 billion project was split into four parts, each built by a different company, and supervised by an independent consortium. There were up to 3,300 workers simultaneously on the project, which took 18 months of preparation and 18 months of construction. The financing is via a build-operate-transfer system by Lusoponte, a private consortium that receives the first 40 years of tolls for both Lisbon bridges. Lusoponte's capital is 50.4% from Portuguese companies, 24.8% from French, and 24.8% from British.

The bridge has a life expectancy of 120 years, having been designed to withstand wind speeds of 250 km/h (155 mph) and hold up to an earthquake 4.5 times greater than the standards of building resistance in Lisbon.[10] The deepest foundation piles, up to 2.2 m (7.2 ft) in diameter, were driven down to 95 m (312 ft) under mean sea level. Environmental pressure throughout the project resulted in the left-bank viaducts being extended inland to preserve the marshes underneath, as well as the lamp posts throughout the bridge being tilted inwards so as not to cast light on the river below.[citation needed]

## Toll

[edit]

Northbound traffic (to Lisbon) is charged a toll while travelling southbound is free. Tolls are collected through a toll plaza located on the south bank of Tagus, near Montijo. As of 2024, bridge tolls range from €3.20 (passenger cars) to €13.55 (trucks).[7]

View from atop Vasco da Gama Tower.

## See also

[edit]

* 25 de Abril Bridge
* Lezíria Bridge
* List of bridges by length
* Megaproject

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Vasco da Gama Bridge – Funding". Lusoponte. Archived from the original on 11 February 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
2. ^ "Infraestruturas Rodoviárias > Rede Rodoviária > Concessões" [Road infrastructures > Road network > Concessions] (in Portuguese). Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
3. ^ "Vasco da Gama Bridge – Construction Statistics". Lusoponte. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
4. ^ a b c Vasco da Gama Bridge at Structurae
5. ^ "Main features". Lusoponte. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
6. ^ "Vasco da Gama Bridge: A Heritage for Lisbon's Future". Bureau International des Expositions. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
7. ^ a b "Vasco da Gama Bridge – Tariffs". Lusoponte. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
8. ^ Hodge, Nathan (15 May 2018). "Russia's bridge to Crimea: A metaphor for the Putin era". CNN. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
9. ^ "Vasco da Gama Bridge – Background". Lusoponte. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
10. ^ "Vasco da Gama Bridge: All About the Longest Bridge in Lisbon". Lisbongo.com. Retrieved 14 September 2022.

## Sources

[edit]

* (in Portuguese) www.civilium.net

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ponte Vasco da Gama.

* Vasco da Gama Bridge on bridge-info.org
* Portal das Nações Discover the Ponte Vasco da Gama
* BBC news story of bridge opening
* Flickr photos of bridge

* v
* t
* e

Attractions and landmarks in Lisbon

Landmarks|

* Águas Livres Aqueduct
* Ascensor da Bica
* Ascensor da Glória
* Belém Tower
* Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal
* British Cemetery
* Café A Brasileira
* Campo Pequeno Bullring
* Casa dos Bicos
* Casa Fernando Pessoa
* Cordoaria Nacional
* Gare do Oriente
* Lisbon Astronomical Observatory
* Lisbon Oceanarium
* Lisbon Zoo
* Mercado de Campo de Ourique
* Pillory of Lisbon
* Prazeres Cemetery
* Rossio Train Station
* Rua Augusta Arch
* Santa Justa Lift
* São Jorge Castle
* Torre do Tombo National Archive
* Vasco da Gama Tower
* Vasco da Gama Bridge
* 25 de Abril Bridge

Museums|

* Berardo - Art Deco Museum
* Berardo Collection Museum
* Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
* Carmo Convent Archaeological Museum
* Carris Museum
* Casa-Museu Dr. Anastácio Gonçalves
* Cordoaria Nacional
* Electricity Museum
* Ephemeral Museum
* José Saramago Foundation
* Macau Science and Culture Centre
* Museu da Água
* Museu Benfica
* Museu da Marioneta
* Museu Nacional da Música
* Museu das Comunicações
* Museu de Arte Popular
* Museum of Lisbon
* Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology
* Museum of the Orient
* Museum of the Resistance and Liberty
* National Museum of Archaeology
* National Museum of the Azulejo
* National Coach Museum
* National Museum of Ancient Art
* National Museum of Contemporary Art
* National Museum of Clothing
* National Museum of Ethnology
* National Museum of Natural History & Science
* National Theatre and Dance Museum
* Naval Museum
* Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro Museum

Palaces|

* Ajuda National Palace
* Belém Palace
* Bemposta Palace
* Burnay Palace
* Galveias Palace
* Monteiro-Mor Palace
* Necessidades Palace
* Palace of the Counts of Azambuja
* Palace of the Counts of Redondo
* Palace of the Dukes of Palmela
* Palace of the Marquises of Fronteira
* Palacete Mayer
* Palacio Belmonte
* Panaca Palace
* Penafiel Palace
* Pestana Palace
* Pimenta Palace
* Quinta dos Lagares d'El-Rei
* São Bento Mansion
* São Bento Palace
* Sotto Mayor Palace
* Verride Palace

Religious buildings|

* Conceição Velha Church
* Estrela Basilica
* Jerónimos Monastery
* Igreja dos Anjos
* Igreja da Madalena
* Igreja da Memória
* Igreja do Menino Deus
* National Pantheon
* Santo António Church
* São Domingos Church
* São Roque Church
* Santa Luzia Church
* Santa Teresa de Jesus de Carnide Convent
* Santo Estêvão Church
* Lisbon Cathedral
* Lisbon Synagogue
* Madre de Deus Convent
* Mártires Basilica
* Monastery of São Vicente de Fora
* Monastery of the Mónicas
* St. George's Church

Squares, streets
and parks|

* Avenida da Liberdade
* Afonso de Albuquerque Square
* Bela Vista Park
* Eduardo VII Park
* Estufa Fria
* Gulbenkian Park
* Marquis of Pombal Square
* Monsanto Forest Park
* Praça da Figueira
* Praça de Entrecampos
* Praça de Espanha
* Praça do Comércio
* Praça do Império
* Praça Martim Moniz
* Restauradores Square
* Rossio Square

Districts and
neighborhoods|

* Ajuda
* Alcântara
* Alfama
* Areeiro
* Arroios
* Avenidas Novas
* Bairro Alto
* Belém
* Benfica
* Campo de Ourique
* Chiado
* Estrela
* Lisbon Baixa
* Misericórdia
* Olivais
* Parque das Nações
* Penha de França
* Santa Clara
* Santa Maria Maior
* Santo António
* São Domingos de Benfica
* São Vicente

Events|

* Doclisboa
* Festival da Canção
* Globos de Ouro
* Lisboa Games Week
* Lisbon Book Fair
* Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival
* Lisbon Marathon
* Lisbon Half Marathon
* Lisbon Christmas tree
* LPFP Awards
* Ludopolis
* NOS Alive
* Olhares do Mediterrâneo - Cinema no Feminino
* Portugal Day
* Queer Lisboa International Queer Film Festival
* Sophia Awards
* Super Bock Super Rock
* Web Summit

Culture and
entertainment|

* Associação Gaita-de-fole
* Banda Sinfónica da Guarda Nacional Republicana
* Casino Lisboa
* Cinemateca Portuguesa
* Coliseu dos Recreios
* Cultural Centre of Belém
* Estádio da Luz
* Estádio da Tapadinha
* Estádio do Restelo
* Estádio José Alvalade
* Gulbenkian Orchestra
* Hot Club of Portugal
* Lisbon University Stadium
* MEO Arena
* National Ballet of Portugal
* Royal Patriarchal Music Seminary of Lisbon

Metropolitan area|

| Portuguese Riviera|

* Alapraia Caves
* Casa das Histórias Paula Rego
* Casa de Santa Maria
* Casa Sommer
* Cascais Citadel Palace Museum
* Cascais Marina
* Cascais Jazz Festival
* Casino Estoril
* Castle of the Moors
* Citadel of Cascais
* Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum
* Convent of the Capuchos
* Cresmina Dune
* Fort of Guincho
* Fort of Santo António da Barra
* Fountain of Armés
* Guia Lighthouse
* Horasis Global Meeting
* Guincho Beach
* Lawrence's Hotel
* Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival
* Monserrate Palace
* Museum of Portuguese Music
* NewsMuseum
* Palácio dos Condes da Guarda
* Palmela Palace
* Pena National Palace
* Santa Marta Lighthouse
* Sanctuary of Peninha
* Seteais Palace
* Sintra National Palace
* Sintra Natural History Museum
* Summer architecture
* Queluz National Palace
* Quinta da Regaleira
* Quinta da Ribafria
* Quinta do Relógio

|

Other|

* Comporta Coast
* Bugio Tower
* Castle of Alcácer do Sal
* Castle of Alenquer
* Castle of Almourol
* Christ the King statue
* Centro de Apoio Social de Runa
* Ceramics Museum of Sacavém
* Festroia International Film Festival
* Fort of Santiago do Outão
* Mafra National Palace
* Monastery of Jesus of Setúbal
* Palace of the High-Courier
* Setúbal Cathedral

Records

Preceded by

Öland Bridge

|  Europe’s longest bridge
1998 – 2018  | Succeeded by

Crimean Bridge

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Israel

Geographic|

* Structurae

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