Headquarters:
mageba sa
Trafostrasse 1
8180 Bulach
Switzerland
Tel: +41-44-872 40 50
Fax:
Portugal
Vasco da Gama Bridge
Project description
In 1998, after 3 years of construction, the 17.2 km-long Vasco da Gama Bridge near Lisbon, which is the second longest bridge in Europe was opened. The cable stayed bridge, with approach viaducts on both sides, spans the Tejo River. To maintain the unhindered navigation of ships, the main section of the crossing has a cable-stayed design with an 825 m span, elevated 45 m above the river. The bridge carries a six-lane motorway with the possibility to upgrade its deck to carry eight lanes.
Delivered products
For the bridge mageba delivered pot bearings as well as TENSA®MODULAR LR9 joints and shock absorbers.
In order to provide the two main suspension towers of the structure with the highest level of safety from ship impacts, the modular expansion joints were fitted with
mageba’s Fuse-Box system, and the towers were equipped with 8 RESTON®SA shock absorbers.
The Fuse-Boxe is constructed with a predefined fracture location, therefore a sudden extreme impact on the joints and the counter bearings would be limited to an absolute minimum. This design requirement was meant to ensure that maximum two out of the six lanes would be out of service during an earthquake, allowing the passage of emergency vehicles.
Under normal conditions the shock absorber acts like a spring, but during a sesimic event the flexible capacity of the absorber would be exceeded and an energy absorbing effect (up to 2,150 kN) would be activated.
In 2024 after 26 years of service, the modular expansion joints of the bridge have been refurbished by replacing their sealings and also their steering and guiding systems.
TENSA-MODULAR expansion joint in service
Shock absorbers ready to be delivered
Both modular joints of the bridge have been refurbished in 2024
Key Data
Products: | TENSA-MODULAR LR9 joints, RESTON-POT bearings, RESTON-SA shock absorbers |
Features: | Expansion joints feature Fuse-Box |
Installed: | 1998 (expansion joints refurbished in 2024) |
City: | Lisbon |
Type: | Cable-stayed bridge |
Length: | 825 m |
