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The image of new asphalt crumbling like crumbs became a symbol of oversight. The Court of Accounts went to the field to listen to residents and measure the damage, but the process is just beginning: nothing has been judged, and the companies identified will still have the chance to present their explanations and defense.
Asphalt that turned to crumbs in less than a year after delivery was what the president of the Mato Grosso Court of Accounts found when starting the inspection on the MT-170 highway. The most critical section of the work, according to a preliminary survey by the Court itself, cost about R$ 130 million to public coffers and is now the target of an audit that will investigate the quality of the paving, the application of resources, and the responsibility of the contracted companies.
The inspection began on Monday, June 1, 2026, conducted by counselor Sérgio Ricardo, president of TCE-MT, after reports that sections of the road in the Northwest Region of the state were already destroyed shortly after being delivered. It is important to make it clear from the outset that this is an ongoing investigation, based on reports and initial findings of the oversight: nothing has been judged or definitively proven, and the companies involved will have the right to express themselves and present their defense throughout the process.
What the Court of Accounts found in the asphalt
According to the president of TCE-MT, Sérgio Ricardo, there is a section between the cities of Castanheira and Juruena that would be completely destroyed, and he fears that the problem will spread to the rest of the road, as, in his words, “the MT-170 turned to crumbs and it cost millions”, a direct reference to the rapid deterioration of the pavement.
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The statement is part of an inspection that the Court nicknamed “Court of Accounts with the foot on the road”.
Over the following days, the advisor and the technical team would travel through municipalities such as Campo Novo do Parecis, Brasnorte, Juína, Castanheira, and Juruena, recording the critical points of each contract lot and holding meetings with city halls and local entities to gather reports from the population affected by the highway’s situation.
The R$ 130 million stretch under investigation
One of the central points of the investigation is the cost of the work compared to its current state.
According to the preliminary survey by the Tribunal, in one of the most critical stretches, executed by the company MT-Sul, about R$ 130 million was paid, and, according to the TCE president, this part of the road would be completely destroyed in just one year after completion.
It is essential to emphasize that this amount is an initial survey and that the mention of the company does not represent, at this moment, any condemnation.
The audit exists precisely to ascertain the facts, hear those involved, and establish, based on technical criteria, if there were failures, who is responsible, and what measures should be taken.
Until then, the right of defense of all mentioned parties prevails.
Who are the companies called to explain themselves
The investigation is not limited to a single company.
The four companies responsible for executing the work, MT-Sul, Guache, Cavalca, and Agrimat, as well as Consol, which had been contracted by the State Government to oversee the others, were summoned to provide clarifications at TCE-MT, which broadens the scope of the investigation to the entire chain involved in the project.
It is worth noting that being summoned to explain does not mean being considered guilty: it is a normal and necessary stage of any audit, where companies have the opportunity to present documents, justifications, and their version of the facts.
The right to a fair hearing and ample defense are guaranteed principles, and only at the end of the process can the Tribunal conclude whether there were irregularities in the work or not.
The issue of insurance and the guarantee of the work
An important technical aspect caught the Tribunal’s attention.
According to Sérgio Ricardo, one of the points of the audit is the regularity of the work’s insurance, as article 618 of the Civil Code requires the company to guarantee the maintenance of the construction for five years, but without insurance coverage, there may be no way to fund the repair of the damaged sections, which would fall again on the public authority.
This concern is central because, even if the responsibility for the damages is attributed to the companies, the lack of financial guarantees could hinder the reimbursement or recovery of the road.
Therefore, verifying whether the contracts provided for and maintained the appropriate insurance is an essential part of the oversight work, in order to protect public money and ensure that the highway can be effectively recovered.
The context of MT-170 and the impact on the region
The highway has strategic importance for the Northwest of Mato Grosso.
MT-170, formerly BR-174, was state-owned in June 2022 to accelerate paving, and the work is divided into two fronts: one of new paving, between Castanheira and Colniza, and another of recovery, from the junction with BR-364 to Castanheira, passing through Brasnorte and Juína, connecting municipalities that depend on the road for their economy.
Not surprisingly, regional leaders have reported that the poor quality of the road has been causing losses in the flow of agricultural production, in the transport of patients who need to travel for treatments, and in the safety of drivers traveling on the highway.
These are the concrete impacts on people’s lives that give urgency to the oversight and justify the mobilization of the Court of Accounts to investigate the case thoroughly.
The case of the asphalt that crumbled on MT-170 highlights an ever-present debate in Brazil: the quality of public works and the care with taxpayers’ money.
The inspection by the Court of Accounts of Mato Grosso is an important step to clarify what happened, but it is only the beginning of a process that still needs to hear the companies, analyze documents and contracts, and only then assign responsibilities.
More than condemning prematurely, the moment calls for careful monitoring, so that, if failures are confirmed, the resources are reimbursed and the road, so important for the region, is properly recovered.
And you, have you ever faced problems with poorly executed public works in your city or region? What do you think should happen when an expensive road deteriorates so quickly? Leave your comment, respecting different opinions, share your experience and share the article with those who care about the good use of public money and the quality of infrastructure in Brazil.
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