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The 22,7 km Tamoios Highway will be inaugurated in November after a seven-year delay. The R$3 billion project promises to reduce travel time on the northern coast of São Paulo and ease traffic. Will the new highway solve the region's traffic problems?
The southern bypass, which had a colossal investment of R$3 billion, is in the final stages of completion and is due to be inaugurated on November 17th. However, expectations are still shrouded in uncertainty as to the exact date.
With a length of 22,7 km, the new highway aims to reduce travel time by half, connecting Caraguatatuba to the port of São Sebastião.
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According to the state government, the road should serve 10,2 vehicles daily, but it is not yet known what traffic will be like during holidays and weekends, when the flow increases exponentially.
The construction of the southern contour is part of a larger project, which includes the northern contour, inaugurated in December 2023.
Together, the two sections total almost 34 km and have as their main objective divert heavy traffic from SP-055, especially trucks bound for the port of São Sebastião.
The new road, ending in the port area and at the access to the ferry to Ilhabela, should allow drivers to cover the route in just 18 minutes, at a maximum speed of 80 km/h.
For those who have already faced the difficulties of traffic on the urban stretch of SP-055, this is a tempting promise.
According to the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, the current crossing between Caraguatatuba and São Sebastião can take more than 40 minutes on normal days.
On holidays, the situation worsens and travel times can reach four hours. Between December 29, 2023 and January 2, 2024, for example, around 213 vehicles circulated through Caraguatatuba, and in São Sebastião, the daily average was 45 vehicles.
The new highway, in addition to easing traffic, can boost tourism and the region's economy.
According to Heloiza Lacerda Franco, president of the Ilhabela Commercial Association, the expectation is that hotel occupancy will grow by up to 15%, compensating for the losses caused by problems with the ferries, which had queues of up to six hours in July.
A partial but promising solution
Despite the relief that the new highway will bring, not everything is rosy. Half of the route of the southern and northern contours will have only one lane in each direction, which may limit the flow on peak days.
Allan Tinôco, engineering manager at the Tamoios dealership, states that the single-track model is part of the original project and that future changes will depend on the government's decision.
The new section will also have tolls in both directions, costing R$5 for passenger cars.
The system will be a free-flow system, with automatic toll collection points using cameras, installed at km 13,5 of the southern bypass. For now, the equipment is being tested at km 16 of the Tamoios highway.
A separate challenge: safety on the new highway
The safety of the new highway is another concern.
During a visit by Folha de S. Paulo reporters to the southern section, animals such as horses and cattle were seen close to the track, a potential risk for accidents.
The concessionaire has already notified the owners and, in some areas, fences will be installed to prevent animals from entering the road.
In addition, the road has 450 cameras for monitoring, but there are still no speed radars installed.
The expectation is that these devices will come into operation after the inauguration to ensure the safety of drivers.
The impact of delay
The works, which began in 2013, were scheduled to be completed in 2017, but were halted in 2018 after the contract with the original contractors was terminated.
Only in 2021, the new concessionaire took over and resumed construction.
According to the state government, delays and changes to the contract contributed significantly to the increase in costs, which have reached the current R$3 billion.
Now, with completion imminent, residents and tourists alike await with anticipation and a certain relief.
After all, the completion of this work promises to facilitate access to the beaches and boost tourism, a crucial sector for the region's economy.
What to expect from the future of the highway
Even with the inauguration, the future of the highway still raises doubts.
The duplication of runways, for example, is not foreseen in the current project, and possible improvements depend on political decisions and new investments.
However, there is a consensus that the new route already represents a significant advance for the northern coast of São Paulo.
With the opening date approaching, it remains to be seen whether the highway will be able to fulfill all its promises and transform mobility and tourism in the region once and for all.
Do you think the new highway will solve the traffic problems on the coast of São Paulo or is there still a lot to be done? Leave your opinion in the comments!
