Traffic Control Room From the Traffic Control Room located at the Toll Plaza Building, skilled operators provide assistance to the users of the Vasco da Gama Bridge by co-ordinating an immediate solution of any incident with the assistance of patrol vehicles, the traffic management system and by requesting assistance from and giving assistance to the police, the emergency, the medical and aid services.

The patrol vehicles provide immediate assistance in solving uncomplicated breakdowns or by contacting your travel assistance service.

In order to operate as speedily as possible the police authorities, Lusoponte constructed a permanent post equipped and operated by the GNR-BT.

Traffic Management System

The Vasco da Gama Bridge and its accesses are supervised by Lusoponte and by the GNR-BT through 87 video cameras connected to monitors installed in the Control Room and the GNR-BT's permanent post at the site. An Automatic Incident Detector (DAI) warns the operators in case of traffic jams.

Along the bridge and in both directions there are 73 EMERGENCY telephone posts (S.O.S.) connected to the traffic control room installed every 400 metres along the deck and every 800 metres at the accesses.

There are 8 portal frames equipped with traffic lights and variable speed panels.

  Open Lane      Closed Lane

The variable speed panels when operating indicate the maximum speed limit allowed on the lane and override the other vertical speed limit signage.

The variable speed panels provide the drivers crossing the Tagus over the Vasco da Gama Bridge with useful information, namely on accidents, works in progress, adverse weather conditions, assistance being provided or incidents.

The wind sleeves installed at the beginning of the deck in each direction are important to help obtain information regarding the direction and force of the wind. It should not be forgotten that in the event of crosswinds greater care should be taken when driving.

The twelve emergency car parks (six in each direction) along the deck beside the portal frames are to be used by vehicles which have broken down or have been involved in an accident and thus guarantee a safe haven for the drivers.

The parks and the hard shoulder should only be used in emergency situations.

Before setting off on a journey check your fuel.

Always respect speed limits

Fatigue causes accidents . Take a rest.

What to do in case of a breakdown

Immediately turn on the four hazard lights.

• Try to bring your vehicle to a halt on the hard shoulder or in the closest emergency parking lot. Should you come to a halt on one of the lanes or in one of the emergency parking lots, the DAI system will trigger an alarm signal to the operator who will in turn immediately send out a mobile patrol vehicle.
• If you are on the hard shoulder place the warning triangle at the distance required by the Highway Code (never less than 30 metres).
• If possible try and get to the closest SOS post and follow the instructions in order to obtain the necessary assistance.
• For your safety and that of the other drivers vehicles should be removed from the deck of the Bridge as quickly as possible.

Direct telephone line to the Traffic Control Room : 21 232 82 01.

Toll Plaza


There are 12 lanes.

Lane 1 (furthest right)    
Manual payment booth for special vehicles (large and long vehicles).
Obligatory stop at booth.

Lane 2 
Used exclusively by Via Card clients for all types of vehicles (heavy, light and motorcycles).
Obligatory stop at booth.

Lanes 3, 4, 11 and 12 
Via Verde for all vehicles carrying a valid vehicle identifier.

Lanes 5 and 6    
Manual payment booths for all types of vehicles (heavy, light and motorcycles).
Obligatory stop at booth.

Lanes 7, 8 and 9    
Manual payment lanes for all types of vehicles (heavy, light and motorcycles).
Obligatory stop at booth.

Lane 10      
Manual payment lanes for all types of vehicles (heavy, light and motorcycles).
Obligatory stop at booth.

Help us keep the bridge clean. Don't throw litter out of the window.