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For more than three decades, drivers and passengers traveling along BR-381, known as the “highway of death”, lived in constant fear, facing dangerous curves and intense heavy vehicle traffic.
The long-awaited concession of BR-381, which connects Belo Horizonte to Governador Valadares, can finally come to fruition.
The auction, which will be held at B3's headquarters, features two companies competing for the concession of this highway of 304 kilometers, known for the high number of fatal accidents.
The stretch, which passes through Vale do Aço, is home to large steel plants and is vital for heavy vehicle traffic.
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Expectations high, but risks persist
The previous governments of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) they tried, unsuccessfully, to auction this road, facing difficulties in attracting interested parties due to high engineering risks and uncertainties about the financial return.
Now, two groups have presented proposals, raising expectations that the project will finally come to fruition. According to the CNN Brazil, one of the consortia is led by Aterpa and JMalucelli, while the other involves the Opportunity Group and operator Monte Rodovias.
Investments and responsibilities
In the new project modeling, the winning concessionaire is expected to invest around R$9 billion over the next 30 years.
134 kilometers of the highway will be duplicated, including remaining works and new sections, in addition to the construction of 83 kilometers of additional lanes, almost 10 kilometers of roadsides, 20 footbridges and 15 wildlife crossings.
There was also an important change: critical excerpts near Belo Horizonte, which require expropriations and removal of irregular housing, were transferred to the responsibility of the public authorities, thus reducing risks for investors.
Expectations for the future of the highway of death
Even with the auction approaching, BR-381 continues to be an engineering and management challenge. The winding road and heavy traffic still pose significant risks, and The viability of the project will depend on the future concessionaire's ability to execute the promised improvements.
Additionally, we bring years of unfulfilled promises generate skepticism among highway users, which await concrete changes.
Hope or more empty promises?
The big question that remains is whether Thursday's auction (29) will mark the beginning of a new era for BR-381 or whether it will be just another empty promise.
Will drivers finally be able to travel on a safer highway, or will this concession face the same obstacles as previous attempts? The future of the “Highway of Death” is at stake, and the outcome of this auction could define the fate of thousands of lives.
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