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Works on Barão de Mauá Bridge halt international crossing and decrease commercial activity at the southern border, with immediate impacts on gas stations, stores, and duty-free shops, as well as prolonged queues and blocked accesses affecting routine and tourism between Brazil and Uruguay.
Traffic changes on the Barão de Mauá International Bridge, which connects Jaguarão, in Rio Grande do Sul, to Rio Branco, in Uruguay, are already directly impacting the border routine and reducing the activity of businesses near the main circulation axis between the two countries.
Since the beginning of the intervention, the adoption of the “stop and go” system has caused waits of up to 40 minutes for crossing, while blockages on adjacent roads make it difficult to access establishments such as gas stations, stores, and duty-free shops located nearby.
According to reports published by GZH, the impact was immediate and significant, with some establishments recording a drop of up to 95% in activity, especially those that depend on a continuous flow of vehicles in the region.
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In the duty-free shop segment, traditional at the border, the reduction in the number of customers reaches 80%, a scenario mainly attributed to the difficulty of parking and constant congestion on access roads.
Works on the bridge alter traffic at the Brazil-Uruguay border
Started in April, the intervention was announced by the National Department of Transport Infrastructure as a necessary measure to ensure the structural integrity of the bridge, which has supported intense light and heavy vehicle traffic for decades.
The services performed include concrete pavement recovery, drain unclogging, expansion joint replacement, arch cleaning, and signage maintenance, steps considered essential to prolong the structure’s lifespan.
At this initial stage, the work is concentrated on one of the lanes, in the Jaguarão–Rio Branco direction, with traffic diverted to the opposite side, maintaining circulation but with reduced capacity.
Subsequently, the operation will be reversed, allowing gradual progress of the teams while the crossing continues to operate on half the lane, a strategy adopted to avoid a total interruption of the flow between the two countries.
Even with completion expected in May, merchants are pressing for solutions to minimize losses throughout the construction period, given the sharp decline in activity recorded since the interventions began.
In response, the Jaguarão city hall reported maintaining dialogue with Dnit to enable alternatives such as extending work hours, including extra shifts and weekend operations.
Border commerce records historic drop in activity
The new traffic dynamics directly affect activities that depend on the daily circulation of residents, tourists, and truck drivers, an essential audience for the local economy based on the constant flow between both sides of the border.
With the increased crossing time and access restrictions, many consumers have started to avoid the area or have given up stopping at establishments near the bridge, drastically reducing the volume of customers.
At gas stations, for example, the reduction in activity reaches 95% in some cases, reflecting the direct dependence on the spontaneous flow of vehicles crossing the border daily.
A similar situation occurs in stores aimed at shopping tourism, especially in the duty-free shops of Rio Branco, where the drop in flow intensified after the implementation of blockages and traffic changes.
As an adaptation strategy, some merchants have started guiding customers on alternative routes, less critical times, and access conditions, although the results are still limited given the congestion scenario.
Still, the recovery of movement depends on factors such as traffic flow, parking availability, and ease of circulation, elements compromised during the construction period.
Maintenance is considered essential for bridge safety
Despite the short-term economic losses, the intervention is treated as indispensable to guarantee the structural safety of the bridge, which plays a strategic role in the integration between Brazil and Uruguay.
With almost a century of use, the Barão de Mauá Bridge remains one of the main symbols of the border, requiring care that reconciles historical preservation and functional maintenance.
In this context, the execution of the works involves greater complexity, as it is necessary to preserve the original characteristics of the structure while ensuring road safety for different types of vehicles.
According to Dnit, the schedule is on track, with no indication of delays so far, even in the face of the observed impacts on traffic and local economic activity.
The forecast is for **gradual traffic release** as the stages are completed, with alternation of the sides under construction until the total completion of services still in May.
History and importance of the Barão de Mauá International Bridge
Built between 1927 and 1930 over the Jaguarão River, the bridge was financed by Uruguay as compensation for a war debt with Brazil, becoming a landmark of cooperation between the two countries.
At the time of its construction, it stood out as one of the largest reinforced concrete structures in South America, representing a significant advance in engineering and infrastructure in the region.
Subsequently, it was declared a **National Historic Monument by Uruguay in 1977** and listed by the Institute of National Historical and Artistic Heritage in Brazil in 2011.
In addition, it received recognition as a **Mercosur Cultural Heritage**, reinforcing its symbolic role in the political, economic, and cultural integration between neighboring nations.
Long before the bridge’s construction, the region was already marked by constant circulation of people, commercial activities, and territorial disputes that shaped the dynamics of the border over the centuries.
With the consolidation of the structure, this connection intensified, transforming Jaguarão and Rio Branco into an integrated space for coexistence, work, and continuous economic exchange.
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