35 years since the completion of the A1: the motorway that brought Portugal closer together

13 September marks 35 years since the completion of the A1 motorway, which connects Lisbon and Porto, the country’s two largest metropolitan areas. The completion of the motorway marked a decisive moment in Portugal’s modernisation, reducing travel times, bringing people and communities closer together and boosting economic activity.

The history of the A1 dates back to May 1961, when the section between Lisbon and Vila Franca de Xira opened to traffic. Thirty years later, in September 1991, the opening of the final section, between Torres Novas and Condeixa, completed the continuous motorway link between Lisbon and Porto.

A backbone of Portugal’s road network, the A1 stretches for approximately 300 kilometres and connects more than 20 municipalities, crossing dozens of localities and major economic centres across the districts of Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Leiria, Santarém and Lisbon.

Over the past 35 years, the A1’s annual average daily traffic has more than doubled, reaching 2.6 times the level recorded in 1991, when the continuous motorway link between Lisbon and Porto was completed. In 2025, taking into account both tolled and toll-free sections, the motorway recorded an average daily traffic volume of 42,885 vehicles and a total of 4.64 billion vehicle-kilometres travelled over the year – equivalent to approximately 31 times the average distance between the Earth and the Sun. Of all its sections, Sacavém–São João da Talha, in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, currently carries the highest volume of traffic.

A connection in constant evolution

The A1 is central to the operations of Brisa Concessão Rodoviária (BCR), which is responsible for managing the motorway. It forms part of a network comprising 12 motorways, spanning a total of 1,100 kilometres, that provides strategic connections across the country, linking the north and south, the coast and inland regions, the Lisbon and Porto metropolitan areas, and the main road corridors connecting Portugal with Spain.

Over the past decades, the A1 has undergone successive modernisation and improvement works, including widening projects, new access points, enhanced road safety measures, and works on embankments and viaducts.

The A1’s ability to adapt was also demonstrated in its response to the crisis in February 2026, when Brisa mobilised teams and resources to respond swiftly to the impacts of exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the motorway’s operations. This response highlighted the concessionaire’s capacity to mobilise resources and deliver effective action in the face of extreme events, at a time when infrastructure resilience is becoming increasingly important.

Today, the motorway’s day-to-day operations involve around 350 people, responsible for its operation, maintenance, roadside assistance and road safety.

The user experience is further enhanced by the presence of seven Colibri service areas along the A1, managed by the Brisa Group. These provide stopping points and services along the route, contributing to greater convenience and comfort, particularly on medium- and long-distance journeys between Lisbon and Porto.

In 2026, the 35th anniversary of the A1’s completion also coincides with the 35th anniversary of Via Verde, whose history is closely linked to the motorway and to Brisa’s pioneering role in modernising mobility in Portugal.

Thirty-five years after its completion, the A1 remains critical infrastructure for the country’s functioning and a symbol of Portugal’s modernisation and the transformation of national mobility.