The 25 de Abril Bridge will celebrate 60 years since its inauguration on August 6, 2026. More than an engineering feat, the bridge has become a vital infrastructure that transformed Lisbon, Almada, and the entire Lisbon Metropolitan Area, connecting territories, jobs, services, and populations separated by the Tagus River.
The idea of building a bridge over the Tagus dates back to the late 19th century, but construction only proceeded between 1962 and 1966 during the Estado Novo regime, initially inaugurated as the Salazar Bridge. Following the Carnation Revolution on April 25, 1974, it was renamed the 25 de Abril Bridge, symbolizing the transition to democracy.
The bridge revolutionized mobility in the region, easing the lives of workers, students, and families, and spurred urban and economic growth on the south bank, integrating the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. However, its construction also came with social costs, including the displacement of thousands of residents.
