The Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, made two significant announcements regarding major transportation investments in Portugal last night. In an official speech, he revealed the new Lisbon airport will be located on public lands of the Alcochete shooting range, as recommended by the technical commission after a year of study. The new terminal will be named after Luís de Camões, the author of The Lusíadas. The first runway is set to be built by 2030, with the second following in 2031. The investment will exceed the anticipated 6,105 million euros.
The second announcement involves accelerating the high-speed rail connection between Lisbon and Madrid, which will require the construction of a third bridge over the Tagus river. This infrastructure is vital to complete the journey between the two capitals in three hours and to facilitate access to the new airport in Alcochete. The Council of Ministers has tasked Infraestructuras de Portugal with finalizing the studies for the bridge and high-speed line, with a goal of operationalizing them by 2034.
These developments do not impact ongoing high-speed Atlantic corridor project connecting Vigo and Porto with a 50-minute journey and two hours and five minutes to Lisbon. Portugal views this axis as a priority to structure its territory. The acceleration of high-speed rail project between Lisbon and Madrid is crucial to improve connectivity between Iberian capitals and reduce dependence on air travel.
The decisions made by government have received widespread support from both parties acknowledging benefits of chosen locations for airport and high-speed rail connection. The selection of Alcochete for airport site was praised despite initial skepticism and will contribute significantly to country’s interests while agreements with Spain and European Commission aim secure funding for timely completion these vital transportation projects.
