Brazil's first paved highway connects three states, is approximately 1,170 km long, and links industrial regions and the federal capital: learn about BR-040 and understand how it marked the history of infrastructure in the country.

Brazil’s first paved highway connects three states, is approximately 1,170 km long, and links industrial regions and the federal capital: learn about BR-040 and understand how it marked the history of infrastructure in the country.

Written by Ruth Rodrigues

Published on 04/05/2026 at 14:18

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Discover the country’s first paved highway, the BR-040, its history, economic importance, and modernization plans.

The BR-040, considered the country’s first paved highway, currently connects Rio de Janeiro to Brasília and plays a strategic role in national integration. Created in 1861 during the imperial period, the road emerged to facilitate transportation between important economic regions.

Over the years, it underwent expansions, received investments, and established itself as one of the main axes between the Southeast and the Midwest, maintaining historical and logistical relevance to this day.

Origin of the country’s first paved highway

The road that today comprises the BR-040 was inaugurated by Dom Pedro II under the name Estrada União e Indústria.

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Expansion and national integration

Over time, the highway was expanded and gained even more relevance. During the government of Juscelino Kubitschek, the road became part of the route to Brasília, strengthening its role as a link between different regions of the country.

Currently, the BR-040 is approximately 1,170 kilometers long and crosses several states, contributing to the transportation of people and goods.

States and district served by the highway:

Rio de Janeiro
Minas Gerais
Goiás
Federal District

Additionally, it connects important industrial centers, which reinforces its economic relevance.

When it was designed, the road presented innovative solutions for the time. The technique used, known as macadamization, consisted of the layering and compaction of stones.

This method allowed vehicles to reach speeds of up to 20 km/h, something considered advanced in the 19th century. Thus, the country’s first paved highway also stood out for its pioneering use of technology.

BR-040: Economic importance and connected regions

The highway connects important industrial hubs, directly contributing to economic development.

Main cities connected:

City	State
Juiz de Fora	MG
Três Rios	RJ
Duque de Caxias	RJ
Campo Grande	RJ
Santa Cruz	RJ

This connection facilitates the flow of production and strengthens integration between industrialized regions.

Modernization and recent investments

In April 2025, the section between Rio de Janeiro and Juiz de Fora was auctioned. The project foresees investments of R$ 8.84 billion, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Learn about the country's first paved highway, BR-040, its history, economic importance, and modernization plans. — Learn about the country’s first paved highway, BR-040, its history, economic importance, and modernization plans. Image: EPR Via Mineira

The objective is to adapt the highway to current traffic demands, ensuring greater safety and efficiency. In this way, the country’s first paved highway continues to evolve to meet modern needs.

More than just a transport route, BR-040 represents an important chapter in Brazilian history. From its creation in the imperial period to current modernization projects, the road maintains its role as a fundamental link between regions.

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Brazil’s first paved highway connects three states, is approximately 1,170 km long, and links industrial regions and the federal capital: learn about BR-040 and understand how it marked the history of infrastructure in the country.

Discover the country’s first paved highway, the BR-040, its history, economic importance, and modernization plans.

Origin of the country’s first paved highway

Expansion and national integration

BR-040: Economic importance and connected regions

Modernization and recent investments

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Brazil’s first paved highway connects three states, is approximately 1,170 km long, and links industrial regions and the federal capital: learn about BR-040 and understand how it marked the history of infrastructure in the country.

Discover the country’s first paved highway, the BR-040, its history, economic importance, and modernization plans.

Origin of the country’s first paved highway

Expansion and national integration

BR-040: Economic importance and connected regions

Modernization and recent investments

Mother and daughter build a 70 m² house with more than 8,000 discarded glass bottles and impress with their creativity; known as the Casa de Sal, the property is located on Itamaracá Island, in Pernambuco.

Workers were opening a new road connection near the Marginal Tietê when they found, in the underground of the construction site, remnants of locomotives, wagons, and boilers from the 19th century linked to the forgotten history of Lapa.

Instead of burning or burying old tires, an American city is transforming about 2,000 of them into the street itself, paving its first sections with a quieter and more durable rubber asphalt.

China transforms desert-devastated area into the world’s largest artificial forest, planting trees for 60 years, blocking sand that reached Beijing, and creating a “green lung” of 92,000 hectares in a region once considered lost.

He transformed an abandoned plastic water tank into an underground house in the “hobbit hole” style, using only repurposed pallet wood, without heavy machinery or expensive labor.

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