Comprehensive report by Luso-Chinese News, Recently, Prime Minister Montenegro summoned 19 mayors to present in detail the “Parques Cidades do Tejo” project plan. This is a super-scale project that will completely transform the landscape on both banks of the Tagus River. It covers key areas such as Arco Ribeirinho Sul, Ocean Campus, Lisbon’s current airport, and the Cidade Aeroportuária de Benavente. It is expected to add 26,000 housing units and create 200,000 jobs.
Turning the Tagus River from a Divider into a Connector
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing stated: “The core goal of the ‘Parques Cidades do Tejo’ project is to transform the Tagus River from a ‘barrier dividing the two banks’ into a ‘link connecting various regions.’” The Greater Lisbon area is the most densely populated region in Portugal, home to a quarter of the country’s population. This project will completely reshape the urban layout on both banks of the Tagus.
Major Development in Benavente
It is noteworthy that the 19 municipalities summoned by Montenegro go beyond the 18 municipalities within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML), and include Benavente. This is because Benavente, as the future site of Lisbon’s new airport, is an indispensable part of the entire project.
Details of the Four Core Planning Areas
According to the announcement released by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing, the project plans to develop a total area of 4,500 hectares, which is 55 times the size of Parque Expo. Municipalities such as Almada, Barreiro, Seixal, Lisbon, Oeiras, Loures, Montijo, and Benavente will directly benefit from the project. The plan is divided into four major zones:
1. Arco Ribeirinho Sul (Almada, Seixal, and Barreiro)
Area: 519 hectares
Riverfront length: 15 kilometers
Planned housing units: 8,000 based on current urban planning; forward-looking studies show potential for up to 28,000 units
Land for public facilities: 800,000 m²
Land for tertiary/ economic activity: 2.3 million m²
Expected jobs created: 94,000
Almada area:
Area: 58 hectares
Plan: Residential, commercial and service sectors, public cultural facilities, preserving shipbuilding industry heritage, building the “Ópera Tejo” (Tagus Opera House)
Barreiro area:
Area: 214 hectares
Plan: Residential, commercial and service sectors, tourism, shipbuilding industry cluster, international conference center, green spaces
Seixal area:
Area: 247 hectares
Plan: Tertiary sector, eco-business park, leisure and entertainment activities
2. Ocean Campus (Oeiras and Lisbon)
Area: 90 hectares
Land for tertiary sector: 180,000 m²
Land for public facilities: 181,000 m²
Expected jobs created: 15,000
Plan: Urban park, large event venues, innovation and R&D industry cluster
3. Humberto Delgado Airport (Lisbon and Loures)
Area: Over 400 hectares
Planned housing units: 3,600 based on current urban planning; potential up to 9,800 units according to studies
Land for public facilities: 119,000 m²
Land for tertiary/economic activities: 559,000 m²
4. Cidade Aeroportuária (Benavente–Montijo)
Area: Over 3,000 hectares
Transport convenience: Only 30 minutes from Lisbon
Directly connected: High-speed rail and main highways linking north and south
Plan: New airport city, scientific and maritime industries
Government Funds New Company to Manage the Project
Montenegro stated that to ensure the smooth progress of the project, a brand-new state-owned company — Sociedade Parque Cidades do Tejo, S.A. — will be established to manage it. This company will be 100% state-owned, with an initial capital of €26.5 million, sourced from the sale of assets previously held by Baía do Tejo.
Proceeds from the sale of land in the Parque Empresarial de Estarreja will serve as startup capital. For now, the funds are solely for research and planning — no construction work is involved yet.
Infrastructure Upgrades: Focus on Public Transport
The “Parques Cidades do Tejo” project has diverse content. In addition to housing construction, it includes cultural, leisure, and research facilities such as the Ópera Tejo, Centro de Congressos Internacional, and Cidade Aeroportuária.
Transport infrastructure construction is a top priority. The government plans to raise the public transport usage rate from the current 24% to 35%. To this end, it will add €3.8 billion in transport infrastructure investments, and invest €328 million annually in public transport subsidies and fare policies.
Massive Scale of Rail Transport Construction
Lisbon Metro: Add 30 km of new lines, 35 stations, €1.524 billion currently invested, reduce 31,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually, increase of 46 million passengers/year
LIOS East Section (Sustainable Interconnected Line): Add 24 km of new lines, 37 stations, estimated investment €490 million
SATUO Multimodal System (pre-bidding stage): Add 9 km, 14 stations, investment €112 million
South Tagus Metro (MST – including west and east sides): Add 50 km, west side investment €350 million
Transtejo Soflusa ferry system: New routes and terminals, €96 million invested in ferries and charging systems, €14 million in terminal and station upgrades
Lisbon–Madrid high-speed rail (Phase 2: Lisbon to Évora): Investment of €2.8 billion
Two new Tagus River crossings: Chelas–Barreiro third crossing (€3 billion), Algés–Trafaria tunnel (€1.5 billion); total transport investment plan: €9.886 billion
Mayors’ Reactions: Anticipation Mixed with Skepticism
Although Montenegro’s plan has raised many expectations, some mayors are cautious.
Moita’s Mayor Carlos Albino noted that the proposal is similar to former Prime Minister António Costa’s plan, only in a new form — “like dressing up old clothes as a new package during election season.” However, he also noticed that the ferry terminal for Moita remains in the new plan.
Setúbal’s Mayor André Martins acknowledged the plan’s “strategic vision” but felt the scope was not broad enough. The Lisbon Metropolitan Area extends to the Sado River, but this plan does not include connections to the Alentejo Litoral region, such as the Setúbal–Tróia ferry route. “The new airport and river crossings affect not only AML, but also neighboring areas, which should not be ignored.”
Barreiro’s Mayor Frederico Rosa believes the plan is “reasonable,” but is concerned that political instability could affect its implementation. He hopes this time it can really move forward. The site for the new airport and the third Tagus bridge connecting Barreiro and Chelas have been confirmed, which sends a positive signal for the project’s advancement and lays a solid foundation for the next steps.
Alcochete’s Mayor Fernando Pinto said the project continues the previous government’s development plan for Arco Ribeirinho Sul. He is “optimistic about Montenegro’s plan but still needs to wait and see.”
Montenegro pledged to close Lisbon’s current airport within 10 years and open the new Aeroporto Luís de Camões (located in Campo de Tiro), which will bring new development opportunities to the region.
High-Level Government and Corporate Representatives Attend Meeting
The meeting was of high importance. In addition to Montenegro, the Minister of State and Finance, the Minister for Territorial Integration, the Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, as well as the heads of Estamo (state asset management company), CCDR-LVT, and Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa (TML), all attended to discuss matters related to the project.
Minister Miguel Pinto Luz emphasized that this project will give new life to long-idle public lands. Through the coordinated development of the four core zones, it aims to balance urban density, implement public housing policies, reduce commuting times, and improve residents’ quality of life through enhanced infrastructure, expanded public transportation networks, and a shift in mobility patterns.