Vasco da Gama Bridge
Lisbon, Portugal

Vasco da Gama Bridge connecting the north and south of Portugal

Where is located Vasco da Gama Bridge?

Address of Vasco da Gama Bridge is Sacavem, Lisbon, Portugal
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When was built Vasco da Gama Bridge?

Built date of Vasco da Gama Bridge is February 1995 - beginning of construction
March 29, 1998 - completion of construction

Vasco da Gama Bridge

Facts, informations and history of Vasco da Gama Bridge

The Vasco da Gama Bridge is the longest bridge in Europe, measuring over 17 km long and connecting the northern and southern parts of Portugal.

The bridge is 17,185 metres long, of which 829 metres is the length of the main span, 11.5 km is the length of the other strand spans and 4.8 km are access viaducts and junctions.

The height of the bridge is 150 meters, its width is 31 meters, and its distance from the water surface is 45 meters.

The bridge takes its name from the most important Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, who was the first European to reach India by sea from the Atlantic Ocean. The bridge was opened on March 29, 1998 and commemorates the 500th anniversary of the explorer's arrival in India (the year 1498).

This is not the first bridge to connect the north to the south of the country, there was already the April 25 Bridge, but it did not have enough traffic capacity, so an alternative Vasco da Gama Bridge was built.

The hosting of the Expo 98 world's fair forced the Lisbon authorities to build a second bridge and a way of financing was devised that would not cost Portuguese taxpayers a penny. The government entrusted the construction, maintenance and toll collection to private companies that would be able to raise the required $1 billion for the bridge. A private consortium, Lusoponte, agreed to build the bridge and thus, according to the contract, to have sole control of tolling on both Lisbon bridges for 40 years.

3,300 workers were needed to build the bridge, and it took 18 months to complete.

The bridge has 6 lanes, although the original design allowed for further expansion when more capacity was required. Expansion plans call for another reconstruction of the bridge when the daily number of cars crossing it reaches 52,000, which is expected to happen within the next few years.

The Vasco da Gama Bridge, plunges 95 meters into the bedrock of the Tagus River; its foundation piles are up to 2.2 meters in diameter. The pillars used to strengthen the bridge can withstand winds of up to 250 kilometers per hour. The life span of the bridge is estimated at 120 years.

The creators of the bridge claim that the structure will be able to withstand an earthquake up to four times stronger than the one that occurred in 1755. Recall that Lisbon was hit by one of the most powerful earthquakes in European history. On November 1, 1755, an earthquake measuring 9 on the Richter scale occurred, followed by a tsunami and fires that left the city in ruins. 275,000 residents died and 85% of buildings were destroyed.

Architect of Vasco da Gama Bridge

Architect of Vasco da Gama Bridge is Armando Rito

How many meters have Vasco da Gama Bridge?

Height of Vasco da Gama Bridge is 150 meters

Construction/building type

Building Vasco da Gama Bridge is of type Cable bridge

Architectural style

Architectural style of Vasco da Gama Bridge is Modern

Modern architectural style is a style characterised primarily by simple and regular forms, a lack of ornamentation and the use of modern building materials. It is significantly different from other architectural styles, such as Baroque, Gothic or Renaissance, where more complex forms and rich ornamentation predominated. ... czytaj więcej.

Other dimensions, parameters and frequently asked questions

Vasco da Gama Bridge

How many meters have Vasco da Gama Bridge?

Vasco da Gama Bridge have length 17,185 meters

What material is the building made of?

Vasco da Gama Bridge is made of the following materials: Prestressed concrete

Cost

Build cost of Vasco da Gama Bridge is 897 million Euro

Practical informations

Vasco da Gama Bridge

What is the cost of entry for Vasco da Gama Bridge?

Tickets for Vasco da Gama Bridge are available at the following prices and variants:

  • Transfer to Lisbon: from 2.85 euros.
  • Transfer to the south: free of charge.

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Lydia
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THIS IS AMAZING

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