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According to the CNT Road Survey 2025, which evaluated more than 114 thousand kilometers, the excellent or good sections rose to 37.9% and the poor or very poor fell to 19.1%, the best result in years; even so, 62.1% of the roads remain in regular, poor, or very poor condition, a bottleneck that directly impacts the transporter’s pocket and the price that reaches the consumer
Every time a bridge collapses or a road disappears into a hole, Brazil is reminded of the size of its infrastructure problem. And the latest numbers show that, despite an improvement, the country’s roads are still far from ideal. According to Poder360, the CNT Road Survey 2025 evaluated 114,197 kilometers of paved roads and concluded that 62.1% of the analyzed network still presents regular, poor, or very poor conditions. In other words, six out of ten sections evaluated have some type of problem.
There was progress, it is true, and it deserves to be noted. According to Poder360, the sections classified as excellent or good rose to 37.9% of the surveyed extension, compared to 33.0% in 2024, while those evaluated as poor or very poor fell from 26.6% to 19.1%. It was the best result for Brazilian roads in years, but still far from solving the bottleneck.
What the survey reveals about Brazil’s roads
The improvement is more evident when comparing the mileage in each situation. The good sections gained ground, and the worst shrank. According to Poder360, the 37.9% in good condition equates to 43,301 kilometers, while the poor or very poor sections retreated to 21,804 kilometers, a drop of 7.5 percentage points compared to 2024. It is a step in the right direction after years of potholed roads.
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Image caption (rodovias-brasil-2.jpg): More than 60% of the roads evaluated in Brazil still present some type of problem. Photo: Reproduction/report.
Road safety also showed signs of improvement. According to Agência Brasil, the CNT Road Survey 2025 recorded a decrease in the number of critical points, which dropped from 2,446 in 2024 to 2,144, indicating progress in road safety on the country’s roads. Each critical point less is one less dangerous section for those traveling on Brazil’s roads.
The difference between who manages the road was also clear in the survey. On roads granted to private companies, the share of poor sections plummeted, while on public roads the reduction was slower. This reignites the old debate about concessions and tolls, and about who can better maintain the roads through which much of the Brazilian economy passes.
Why the condition of highways weighs on everyone’s pocket
The problem with highways goes far beyond the discomfort of hitting a pothole. Bad roads are expensive, and this cost affects the entire population. According to Agência Brasil, poor pavement quality increases the operational costs of freight transport in the country by an average of 31.2%. Each pothole-ridden highway raises freight costs, and higher freight costs increase the price of everything that is transported.
Image caption (rodovias-brasil-3.jpg): Poor pavement increases the cost of transporting freight on Brazilian highways by up to 31%. Photo: Reproduction/report.
As Brazil heavily relies on road transport, this effect is enormous. Most of the country’s freight travels on tires, and truck transport accounts for almost everything that reaches stores, so when highways are in poor condition, fuel consumption, vehicle wear, and travel time increase. Poor pavement roads become a cost, and this cost spreads from the supermarket to the electricity bill, making life more expensive for those who have never traveled that road.
Besides the price, there is the human cost. Potholes, faded signage, and poor shoulders increase the risk of serious accidents on highways, especially at night and in heavy traffic areas. Investing in road maintenance is therefore not just an economic issue but also about saving lives in a country that still records many traffic accidents on its highways.
The size of the Brazilian infrastructure challenge
The state of the highways is just one part of a larger infrastructure bottleneck in Brazil. Old bridges, congested ports, and insufficient railways complete an infrastructure scenario where the country loses competitiveness by not being able to efficiently transport its own production. A failing transport network hinders agribusiness, industry, and commerce all at once, highlighting why transport infrastructure needs continuous investment.
Cases like important bridges that suddenly need to be closed show how Brazil still deals with structures at their limit. When a vital crossing shuts down, the economy of an entire region feels the impact, with truck queues, delayed cargo, and accumulating losses. It’s a picture of infrastructure that requires constant maintenance and long-term planning to avoid sudden stops.
In the end, the CNT Road Survey 2025 delivers a two-sided message. On one hand, Brazil’s highways have improved and are heading in the right direction. On the other, with more than 60% of the network still facing issues, the country is far from being able to relax. Until Brazil treats road maintenance as a permanent priority, and not just a reaction to tragedies, each pothole will continue to be costly in freight, safety, and the Brazilian’s pocket. Tell us in the comments: how are the highways in your region, good or full of potholes?
