Vasco da Gama Bridge

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The Vasco da Gama Bridge (Template:Langx) 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,[1] and was the longest bridge for a while. It is also 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.[2]

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

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Vasco da Gama Bridge

The bridge carries six road lanes, with a speed limit of Script error: No such module "convert"., the same as that on motorways, except on one section which is limited to Script error: No such module "convert".. On windy, rainy, and foggy days, the speed limit is reduced to Script error: No such module "convert".. The number of road lanes will be enlarged to eight when traffic reaches a daily average of 52,000.

Bridge and access road sections
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  2. North viaduct: Script error: No such module "convert".
  3. Expo viaduct: Script error: No such module "convert".; 12 sections
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  5. Central viaduct: Script error: No such module "convert".; 80 pre-fabricated sections Script error: No such module "convert".-long; 81 pillars up to Script error: No such module "convert".-deep; height from Script error: No such module "convert". to Script error: No such module "convert".
  6. South viaduct: Script error: No such module "convert".; Script error: No such module "convert". sections; 84 sections; 85 pillars
  7. South access roads: Script error: No such module "convert".; includes the toll plaza (18 gates) and two service areas

Construction and cost

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 Script error: No such module "convert". and hold up to an earthquake 4.5 times greater than the standards of building resistance in Lisbon.[3] The deepest foundation piles, up to Script error: No such module "convert". in diameter, were driven down to Script error: No such module "convert". 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.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Toll

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).[4]

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See also

References

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Sources

External links

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Template:Lisbon landmarks

Records
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Europe’s longest bridge
1998 – 2018 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

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