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Unfinished bridges on the BR illustrate a problem that haunts Brazilian infrastructure: the abandonment of million-dollar projects. Unfinished for decades, these viaducts have left communities isolated and without access to progress.
In Brazil, where federal roads connect large urban centers and drive the economy, some unfinished works have become true symbols of abandonment.
Among them, two unfinished bridges in the Despraiado Valley remain as an enigma on the side of the BR-101, one of the country's main highways.
While traffic flows for thousands of kilometers between the North and South of Brazil, this section simply never got off the ground.
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According to Daily Coastal Portal, located in the territory of Pedro de Toledo, in the Ribeira Valley, the structures should be part of BR-101, which extends for 4.824 kilometers.
However, decades after construction began, what was supposed to be an essential link between the states remains a landscape of abandoned concrete and weeds growing over the non-existent asphalt.
BR-101, also known as Rodovia Governador Mário Covas, is a fundamental axis for road transport in Brazil, crossing 12 states and connecting the country from one end to the other.
However, the abandonment of strategic sections, such as in Vale do Despraiado, demonstrates how Brazilian road infrastructure still faces structural and administrative challenges.
Abandoned structures and a silence that echoes for years
In the Despraiado Valley, what should have been a busy highway has given way to an almost untouched environment.
Instead of roaring engines, the song of white-throated thrushes, blue-throated tanagers and purple-faced parrots fills the void left by progress that never arrived.
The local population, spread across small caiçara communities, depends on improvised paths to reach nearby destinations.
BR-101 promised to integrate the region with the rest of the state of São Paulo, but isolation persists, making access to essential services difficult.
“If the BR-101 had passed through here, we would have made progress. Without it, we were forgotten for 40 years. Only now is things starting to improve,” he says. Anderson Apolinário, public servant in Itanhaém, whose family has lived in Juréia for three generations.
Residents report that, without adequate access, the transportation of goods and the flow of agricultural production in the region are compromised.
Many perishable products end up getting lost along the way due to logistical difficulties, increasing costs and limiting the competitiveness of small local producers.
Furthermore, the lack of infrastructure also prevents the development of ecological tourism, which could be a sustainable economic alternative for the region.
The Ribeira Valley has one of the last remaining areas of preserved Atlantic Forest, but without adequate access, its tourist potential remains underutilized.
No communication, no infrastructure and no answers
The precariousness of the region is reflected in the lack of basic services.
There is no mobile phone coverage, internet is only available via satellite, and electricity is provided by solar panels or improvised generators.
The State Government even installed a UHF radio-telephony tower in the past, but the equipment was never sufficient to eliminate technological isolation.
The local rural school no longer operates, and medical care is sporadic, depending on the availability of professionals who travel to the location.
Despite the administrative connection with Pedro de Toledo, residents identify more with nearby coastal cities, such as Peruibe and Iguape, reinforcing the feeling that the Despraiado Valley remains a forgotten land, distant from state and federal development policies.
Furthermore, the lack of regular policing leaves the region vulnerable to criminal activity and wildlife trafficking, a common practice in hard-to-reach areas.
Environmentalists warn that without adequate monitoring, endangered species face even greater risks.
Why was the work never completed?
The unfinished section of BR-101 in Juréia has been the subject of discussions for decades. Between political promises and environmental obstacles, the project never progressed towards completion.
Experts point out that, in addition to the geographic complexity of the region, the environmental impact was one of the main reasons for the freezing of works.
Juréia is one of the most preserved areas in the state of São Paulo, and any intervention must go through rigorous environmental licensing processes.
Attempts to restart the project faced resistance from environmentalists and residents concerned about environmental degradation.
However, The lack of a viable solution has created a paradox: while the unfinished highway preserves the forest, it also isolates communities that could benefit from sustainable development.
Furthermore, bureaucratic obstacles and lack of investment kept the project at an eternal impasse, with no solution in sight.
The future of BR-101: is there any hope?
In recent years, new debates have emerged about the feasibility of completing this section of BR-101, especially with the advancement of technologies that allow for works with less environmental impact.
However, to date, there are no concrete plans to resume construction.
Despite the difficulties, there are examples of similar works that were able to be resumed with innovative solutions.
Sustainable infrastructure projects have been implemented in several countries, using cable-stayed bridges and underground tunnels to reduce environmental impacts.
For something similar to happen in the Ribeira Valley, a firm commitment between governments, companies and civil society would be necessary.
Meanwhile, unfinished bridges remain a silent testament to the neglect of infrastructure in Brazil, and local communities remain isolated, waiting for progress that never came.
