The 25 de Abril Bridge has celebrated 60 years of history. Inaugurated as the Salazar Bridge, the infrastructure has weathered political, social and technological changes that have transformed it into the main link between Lisbon and the south bank of the Tagus.
From the Salazar Bridge to the 25 de Abril Bridge
When it opened to traffic on 6 August 1966, the bridge was named Salazar Bridge, in honour of the then President of the Council of Ministers. The name remained until the 25 April Revolution of 1974, when it was officially renamed the 25 de Abril Bridge, becoming one of the symbols of Portuguese democracy.
Construction began in 1962 and was completed in less than four years. At the time, it was the largest public works project ever undertaken in Portugal.
Infrastructure that transformed mobility
The opening of the bridge profoundly changed mobility in the Lisbon region. For the first time, there was a permanent road connection between the two banks of the Tagus, reducing travel times and facilitating urban expansion on the south bank.
The population growth of municipalities such as Almada, Seixal, Barreiro and Moita became closely linked to the existence of this crossing, which began to be used daily by thousands of workers and students.
Read more: 25 de Abril Bridge celebrates 60 years and remains the main link between Lisbon and the south bank
The arrival of the railway
Although the bridge was designed to accommodate rail traffic, it was not until 1999 that trains began crossing it, following the construction of a second deck. The new connection strengthened public transport and increased the infrastructure’s capacity, which today accommodates both road and rail traffic.
Today, the 25 de Abril Bridge remains the most heavily used crossing over the Tagus, carrying around 150,000 vehicles and 174 trains every day.
A symbol that continues to define Lisbon
Six decades later, the 25 de Abril Bridge continues to play a central role in the mobility of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area and remains one of the most recognisable images of the Portuguese capital.
Despite the opening of the Vasco da Gama Bridge in 1998, the historic crossing continues to handle the largest volume of traffic between the two banks, maintaining its status as a strategic infrastructure for the region.
