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BR-282, Vital For The Brazilian State, Suffers From Lack Of Investment And Only Has 4 Km Duplicated Out Of Nearly 680 Km! Tired Of The Neglect From The Federal Government, The Governor Wants To Take Over The Highway To Transform It.
The Governor of Santa Catarina, Jorginho Mello, has requested the Federal Government to transfer the management of BR-282 to the state, arguing that the state administration could implement necessary improvements more quickly and efficiently.
BR-282 is a vital highway that crosses Santa Catarina from east to west, connecting the coast to the extreme west, on the border with Argentina, and plays a crucial role in the flow of agricultural and industrial production, as well as being an important route for tourism.
Problems Faced By BR-282
Currently, BR-282 has only 4 km of duplication out of its nearly 680 km length, representing a mere 0.5% of the total.
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Itajaí has a shortage of 15,800 homes, 52,000 families ready to buy, and a residential development sold 70% in just six months.
This limitation contributes to congestion and increases the risk of accidents.
Data from the Federal Highway Police indicates that between 2017 and 2022, there were 8,451 accidents on the highway, resulting in 572 fatal collisions and 9,428 injuries.
Infrastructure experts warn that the lack of continuous investment in maintaining the road has been one of the main problems faced by drivers and transporters.
Many stretches of the highway exhibit poor signage, potholes, and lack of safe shoulders, increasing accident risks.
Furthermore, the road is one of the main routes for transporting agricultural goods, a vital sector for the economy of Santa Catarina.
Without structural improvements, delays in product transportation could compromise the state’s competitiveness in the domestic and international markets.
Economic Impact Of BR-282 For Santa Catarina
BR-282 is one of the main routes for the flow of agricultural and industrial production in Santa Catarina.
The highway allows connection between inland cities and large urban centers, such as Florianópolis, and facilitates the export of goods through the Port of Itajaí.
It is estimated that about 70% of the state’s agricultural production passes through BR-282, which highlights its importance for the economy of Santa Catarina.
Due to the precarious infrastructure, many business owners in the transportation sector report losses due to accelerated vehicle wear and increased travel times.
This has a direct impact on operating costs and can reflect in the final price of products for consumers.
Investments And Announced Projects
The National Department of Transportation Infrastructure (DNIT) has announced initiatives to improve the infrastructure of BR-282.
In September 2024, DNIT authorized the preparation of studies and projects for the duplication of a 96.1 km stretch between Irani and Chapecó, with an investment of R$ 7 million.
In October of the same year, a contract was signed for studies on another stretch of 110.6 km between Campos Novos and Irani, with an investment of R$ 14.4 million.
More recently, in January 2025, the preparation of projects for the duplication of 117.8 km between Chapecó and São Miguel do Oeste was initiated, with an investment of R$ 8 million.
Proposal From Governor Jorginho Mello
Despite these initiatives, Governor Jorginho Mello believes that federal actions are insufficient given the highway’s needs.
He proposes that the state take over the management of BR-282, provided that the resources currently allocated for its maintenance are transferred to state administration.
Mello emphasizes that, under state management, it would be possible to prioritize interventions in critical urban areas and accelerate duplication and revitalization processes.
Comparison With Other State And Federal Highways
BR-282 is not the only highway in Brazil facing structural challenges.
Other federal highways crossing states with strong economic activity also face similar issues.
BR-101, for example, which runs through Brazil from north to south, has received private concessions for its maintenance and duplication in some states, which has accelerated the modernization of the route.
Meanwhile, state highways like SC-283 and SC-155, both in Santa Catarina, demonstrate that state management can, in certain cases, ensure faster improvement works than federal ones.
In view of this, the proposal to state the BR-282 raises a debate about the viability and efficiency of this change.
Debate On State Management Of The Highway
The proposal to state BR-282 raises debates about the efficiency of highway management and the ability of state governments to take on such responsibilities.
In the meantime, the population and the productive sector of Santa Catarina await solutions that ensure safety and efficiency in transportation on the highway.
Infrastructure experts point out that, regardless of the level of administration, the most important thing is to ensure continuous investment, strategic planning, and rigorous oversight so that projects move from paper to reality and bring real benefits to drivers and the regional economy.
In light of this scenario, do you believe that transferring the management of BR-282 to the state government would result in quicker and more effective improvements for the highway? Share your opinion in the comments.
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