Vasco da Gama Bridge carries road traffic across the Tagus in Lisbon and is named for the Portuguese explorer who reached India by sea.
The bridge opened in 1998 as part of celebrations marking the 500th anniversary of Vasco da Gama's voyage to India. It extends eastward across the Tagus estuary and connects Lisbon with the southern bank near Montijo and Alcochete.
At about 17.2 kilometres including approach roads and viaducts, it is one of Europe's longest bridges. Its long alignment helps distribute traffic away from the older 25 de Abril Bridge, which crosses the Tagus closer to central Lisbon.
The bridge's name commemorates Vasco da Gama, but it should not be confused with Lisbon's other major Tagus crossing, whose official name honors the date of Portugal's 1974 revolution.