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Stretch of Almost 145 Km Straight on BR-020 Places Western Bahia Among the Longest Straight Roads in the World and Received Million-Dollar Investment for Recent Revitalization.
A stretch of almost 145 kilometers practically straight, in western Bahia, makes a segment of BR-020 stand out among the longest roads in the world without significant curves, between Rosário, in Correntina, and Roda Velha, in São Desidério.
The feature draws attention because the asphalt stretches with an open horizon for tens of kilometers, in a layout that, seen on the map, looks like a continuous line crossing the cerrado and connecting strategic freight circulation areas.
Revitalization of 135.9 Km on BR-020 in Western Bahia
In September 2024, the federal government announced the revitalization of 135.9 kilometers of this segment of BR-020/BA, executed by DNIT with an investment of approximately R$ 35.3 million, focused from km 0 to km 135.9.
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The interventions carried out by DNIT included milling of the pavement and application of Hot Mix Asphalt, as well as recovery of the shoulders and implementation of temporary horizontal signaling, according to an official statement released in September 2024.
There was also mowing and cleaning of the right-of-way along the entire stretch covered, from km 0 to km 135.9, a measure used to maintain visibility of the signage and reduce risks associated with the growth of vegetation along the edges.
The investment reported by the Ministry of Transport was approximately R$ 35.3 million, amount associated with improving rolling conditions and the goal of increasing road safety in a corridor with long-distance traffic.
Although the total segment referred to as “straight” reaches about 145 kilometers, the completed package corresponded to 135.9 kilometers, a difference explained by the administrative delimitation of the stretch served in the works officially announced.
BR-020 as a Logistical Corridor for Agriculture in Matopiba
BR-020 is classified as a radial highway and, in the national layout, connects Brasília to Fortaleza, crossing the Federal District, Goiás, Bahia, Piauí, and Ceará, forming one of the direct road connections between the Midwest and the Northeast.
In western Bahia, the highway cuts through an area associated with Matopiba, a territorial cut used to describe agricultural expansion in parts of Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí, and Bahia, with predominance of cerrado and grain and fiber production.
The region is known for concentrating crops such as soy, corn, and cotton, in addition to a storage, services, and transportation chain that depends on the regularity of traffic to reduce losses and organize harvest flow.
When the pavement has flaws, logistics costs tend to increase due to lower average speed, higher fuel consumption, and vehicle wear, factors that reflect on freight planning and delivery predictability.
For this reason, the federal government treated the segment as a relevant route for agriculture and also for the transportation of goods and services, highlighting the role of BR-020 as a link between producing regions and consumer markets.
Sensation of Endless Road and Challenges for Drivers
Throughout the route between the villages of Rosário and Roda Velha, the highway maintains a nearly constant direction and few urban interferences, reinforcing the impression of “endless road” for those crossing the region by car or truck.
The experience of driving on a nearly straight stretch for tens of kilometers can reduce the perception of changing scenery and require discipline from the driver, as the environment tends to repeat and the field of vision remains similar for a long time.
Truck drivers and travelers crossing interstate distances often report that very linear sections increase the feeling of monotony, which makes it even more important to maintain regular breaks and constant attention to road conditions.
Additionally, the predominance of heavy traffic in the corridor reinforces the need for good shoulder conditions and visible signage, especially in situations of overtaking, lighting variations, and rainy periods in the region.
With the improvement of asphalt surfacing and shoulders in the revitalized segment, the expectation reported in official notes is to provide a more uniform rolling surface and reduce critical points that tend to concentrate accident risks.
Comparison with the Longest Straight Roads in the World
Even without being a perfectly geometric line, the Bahian stretch is cited as one of the longest in paved road in South America when the criterion is the absence of significant curves over long distances.
Outside Brazil, one of the best-known examples is the segment called “90 Mile Straight,” on the Eyre Highway, in the Nullarbor Plain, Australia, often described as having about 146.6 kilometers without significant curves.
Another common reference is Highway 10 in Saudi Arabia, mentioned by international sources and record-keeping for having a segment of approximately 240 kilometers straight between Haradh and Al Batha in a desert area.
In the United States, Interstate 80 is remembered for crossing the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, where there are long, flat stretches, and travel publications mention over 30 miles of perfectly straight road in that scenario.
Given these comparisons, BR-020 in western Bahia appears on the same level as famous straight stretches in approximate length, but with a distinct logistical function tied to agricultural flow and regional freight circulation.
Enquanto isso a BR-153 em SP desmanchando em buracos, mais com pedagios
Para os aventureiros motociclistas, todo cuidado é pouco, há ventos muito fortes e rajadas que podem derrubar as motos.
Já dirijo, de São Paulo, capital, até Luís Eduardo Magalhães, na Bahia, e fomos de carro, utilizando a rota, de Brasília, pela BR 20, uma verdadeira aventura, mas desafiadora e empolgante , isso foi acerca de 5 ou 6 anos, atrás a bordo de um Honda Accord, carregado de objetos de nosso uso, porque fomos morar naquela cidade baiana, ótima localidade, e voltaria a morar lá, entretanto a Br 20, bem que deveria ser duplicada, em função da importância no escoamento da produção agrícola e outros produtos, além de ser passagem obrigatório para se chegar a Brasília, importante região do nosso país, além da importância de se chegar até Fortaleza, no Ceará, e outros estão nordestinos.