In a statement, the company Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) revealed that it had been awarded the contract for the rehabilitation and structural reinforcement of the bridge, in the district of Setúbal.

"With an investment of €7.4 million, the work now underway aims to improve structural stability and ensure seismic reinforcement of the bridge and access viaducts," IP stated.

According to the company, the project will also "increase comfort levels and enhance the safety of this road infrastructure for drivers."

The bridge over the Sado River and its access viaducts, located at kilometre 567.571 of the IC1, has a total length of 1,209.5 meters.

The structure consists of four substructures: the viaduct over the railway line, the north viaduct, the main bridge, and the south viaduct, according to Infraestruturas de Portugal.

The project includes, among other works, seismic strengthening of the bridge, sanitation and cleaning work on the riverbed, reinforcement of the base and top of pillars, and installation of additional horizontal bracing devices between the bridge deck and the pillars.

Furthermore, paving and waterproofing of the road deck will be carried out, the safety guardrail will be replaced, the guardrails will be rehabilitated, the concrete surfaces will be repaired and protected, and the metal elements will be completely rehabilitated.

IP indicated that this project is part of the company's strategy of "continuous investment in improving the availability, reliability, and safety" of the engineering structures—bridges, viaducts, culverts, and others—that make up the National Highway Network.

The goal is to ensure "the best traffic conditions for companies transporting goods and ensuring public mobility," they added.