Vasco da Gama Bridge, Cable-stayed bridge across Tagus River in Lisbon, Portugal.
The Vasco da Gama Bridge is a road connection roughly 12 kilometers long that links both banks of the Tagus and rests on reinforced concrete supports north of Lisbon. Tall H-shaped pylons carry the central sections while flatter viaducts form the approach on both shores.
Construction began in the mid-1990s to provide a second crossing of the Tagus for growing traffic. The opening took place in 1998 and marked the 500th anniversary of the navigator's voyage to India.
The structure recalls the explorer who sailed from Portugal in the late 1400s. His name evokes the era when Portuguese ships opened new connections between continents and made Lisbon a major port.
Vehicles heading north pay tolls while the opposite direction remains free. Wind gusts can be strong on exposed days, so motorcyclists and camper drivers should be prepared for changing conditions.
The foundations reach 95 meters below sea level and rest on the riverbed to allow movement during earthquakes. Hydraulic dampers absorb vibrations and let the pylons yield without damaging the roadway deck.
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