Madrid and Lisbon Move Closer with New Cross-Border Bridge

Spain and Portugal are set to strengthen their connection with the construction of a new international bridge over the Sever River, linking Montalvão in Portugal with Cedillo in Spain’s Extremadura region. The €24 million infrastructure project will significantly improve cross-border accessibility and reduce travel distances between the two countries by around 100 kilometres.

The 160-metre bridge will feature two traffic lanes, hard shoulders, and pedestrian sidewalks, designed with twin concrete arches that minimize environmental impact by avoiding pillars in the riverbed. The project is largely funded by Portugal, with additional support from the Regional Government of Extremadura.

This new link forms part of broader efforts to improve connectivity between the Iberian capitals. Looking ahead, a long-anticipated high-speed rail connection between Madrid and Lisbon is expected to be completed by 2034, potentially reducing travel time between the two cities to around two hours.

Source: Madrid Secreto, February 2026