In a statement, Lusoponte explained that the closure of the bridge, which connects the two banks of the Tagus River, in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, "aims to comply with the previously established Structural Monitoring Programme".

"As an alternative, use the 25 de Abril Bridge, complying with the restrictions imposed on this crossing, namely for the transport of dangerous goods, permitted only between 02:00 and 05:00", the note said.

Since the opening of the Vasco da Gama Bridge on March 29, 1998, seven similar monitoring programmes have already been carried out.