Vasco da Gama Bridge: 9 key figures

For many people, it is now almost impossible to imagine Lisbon without the Vasco da Gama Bridge. Opened in 1998, it pays tribute to the navigator Vasco da Gama, coinciding with the 500th anniversary of his arrival in India in 1498.

Yet this concrete structure represents far more than a ‘simple tribute’.

Built on the northern side of Lisbon, the Vasco da Gama Bridge quickly became the long-awaited - and much-needed - alternative to the 25 de Abril Bridge, as well as a vital transport link between the north and south of Portugal.

Here are some figures about the bridge, which for a time was known simply as the ‘second Tagus crossing’.

2,90

The toll price in euros for Class 1 vehicles (editor’s note: 2022). When it opened in 1998, the toll for passenger cars (Class 1) was 320 escudos (€1,60).

Today, Class 2 vehicles pay €6,55, Class 3 vehicles are charged €9,65, while the toll for Class 4 vehicles rises to €12,40.

17,185 km

The total length of the Vasco da Gama Bridge. Of its full length, 12,345 km runs over the waters of the Tagus river.

These dimensions earned it the title of ‘Europe’s longest bridge’ until 2018, when it was overtaken by the Crimean Bridge, built across the Kerch Strait and measuring 18,100 km.

Even so, the Vasco da Gama Bridge remains the European Union’s longest bridge.

91

The number of cameras installed along the Vasco da Gama Bridge, allowing traffic to be monitored continuously from the Control Room and a permanent GNR post.

The bridge also has 73 emergency telephones and an Automatic Incident Detection (AID) system, which alerts operators whenever traffic comes to a standstill.

Lusoponte’s assistance patrols - Lusoponte is the organisation responsible for managing the bridge - help drivers deal with minor breakdowns.

250 km/h

The wind-gust speed that the Vasco da Gama Bridge was designed to withstand.

Awarded first prize by the Ibero-American Institution of Architecture and Civil Engineering in 2000, the bridge was designed to withstand an earthquake 4,5 times more powerful than the one Lisbon experienced in 1755.

3300

The number of workers involved in building the Vasco da Gama Bridge between February 1995 and March 1998.

Particular importance was placed on environmental protection during construction, as the bridge crosses the Tagus Estuary Natural Park.

15 000

The number of people who took part in the world’s largest feijoada on 22 March 1998.

The table used to serve the feijoada entered the Guinness Book of Records as ‘the world’s largest table’, measuring 5,05 km in length.

Interestingly, this huge feijoada took place before the bridge’s official opening ceremony, held just one week later on 29 March 1998, which was presided over by Jorge Sampaio, then President of the Republic.

62 000

The average number of cars crossing the Vasco da Gama Bridge every day.

When the bridge marked the 20th anniversary of its opening in 2018, statistics showed that, since 1998, around 426 million cars had crossed it.

730 000 m³

The total volume of concrete used to construct the Vasco da Gama Bridge.

In addition to the concrete, 100 000 tonnes of steel were used and 1 400 000 m³ of earth was moved. The total asphalt surface area amounts to 400 000 m².

897 000 000

The cost of building the Vasco da Gama Bridge in euros. Of this amount, €319 million came from the European Union Cohesion Fund, while €299 million was lent by the European Investment Bank.

Tolls collected on the 25 de Abril Bridge contributed €50 million.