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Santa Catarina builds two viaducts at km 64 and 65 of BR-280 with pillars up to 35 meters high in the hills of Jaraguá do Sul and 1.8-meter beams that support the roadway over the valleys, an investment of R$ 100 million in lot 2.2, which is over 77% complete and expected to be delivered in the second half of 2026.
Santa Catarina is erecting reinforced concrete pillars in the hills of northern Santa Catarina to build viaducts that will allow vehicles to cross valleys dozens of meters high, in one of the most impressive road infrastructure projects underway in the state. The two viaducts under construction at km 64 and 65 of BR-280, in Jaraguá do Sul, are part of lot 2.2 of the duplication project that cuts through the municipalities of Jaraguá do Sul, Guaramirim, and Schroeder, a section with over 77% of the works completed and representing the most advanced segment of the entire duplication. The structures will connect the João Pessoa and Três Rios neighborhoods, allowing for a grade-separated crossing that eliminates dangerous intersections and improves vehicle flow with minimal impact on the natural terrain of the hills.
The investment in the viaducts exceeds R$ 100 million, and the estimated delivery is the second half of 2026. One of the viaducts is 85.36 meters long, while the other reaches 220.30 meters, dimensions that require precision engineering to support a roadway at heights that vary according to the depth of the valleys and the inclination of the hills that BR-280 needs to cross. According to DNIT (National Department of Transport Infrastructure), the elevated pillars can reach 24 meters on the left side and 35 meters on the right side of the structure, an asymmetry that reflects the irregularity of the terrain on which the viaducts are supported.
How the viaduct pillars are built in the BR-280 hills
The construction of 35-meter pillars in mountainous terrain is not a task solved with common equipment. Each viaduct pillar begins with deep excavation into the rocky soil of the hills, where foundations are anchored in stable rock layers capable of supporting the weight of the complete structure, including the traffic of loaded trucks that will circulate on the roadway. The process requires prior geological surveying that maps the subsurface composition at each support point, because the terrain’s resistance varies along the alignment, and pillars positioned at fragile points would compromise the entire work.
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The asymmetry in pillar height is a direct consequence of the topography. In sections where the highway needs to cross valleys or lower areas between the hills, the pillars are proportionally taller to maintain the roadway level and ensure a continuous trajectory without repeated ascents and descents that would force drivers to brake and accelerate. The 35-meter pillar on the right side of the structure is positioned over a deeper depression in the terrain, while the 24-meter one on the left side rests on a less accentuated elevation, a difference that visually creates the effect of the roadway floating over the valley at an angle that follows the natural curvature of the relief.
The role of stringer beams in supporting viaducts
In addition to the impressive height of the pillars, another essential component of viaduct engineering is the stringer beams that form the base upon which the roadway will be paved. Each beam is approximately 1.8 meters high and is positioned horizontally between the pillars, creating the flat structure that supports the weight of the running surface and uniformly distributes traffic loads to the support columns. The beams function as the “bones” of the viaducts: without them, the pillars would merely be isolated columns incapable of supporting any vehicle.
The launching of the beams is considered one of the most delicate stages in the construction of viaducts. Each piece needs to be lifted by large cranes and positioned with millimeter precision on the pillar supports, an operation that takes place dozens of meters above the ground and requires specialized teams working in conditions where any miscalculation can compromise the stability of the entire structure. The current phase of work on the BR-280 viaducts focuses precisely on this procedure, and its completion will pave the way for track paving and signaling that precede release to traffic.
Why viaducts are necessary on this stretch of BR-280
The rugged terrain of northern Santa Catarina imposes a choice between two approaches: circumventing the hills with winding roads or crossing them with structures that maintain a constant track level. Viaducts represent the second option, an engineering solution that eliminates dangerous curves, reduces inclines that strain heavy vehicle braking systems, and shortens travel time by replacing kilometers of detours with direct crossings over valleys. For trucks transporting industrial production from the Jaraguá do Sul region, every eliminated curve and every shortened kilometer translates into savings in fuel, time, and mechanical wear, directly impacting logistical costs.
Road safety is the other central argument for the construction of viaducts. The current BR-280 forces drivers to navigate sharp curves on mountainous terrain with limited visibility, a condition that multiplies the risk of accidents, especially on rainy or foggy days when wet pavement and reduced visibility turn every curve into a potential collision point. With the viaducts, the route between the João Pessoa and Três Rios neighborhoods becomes straight and elevated, a combination that offers wide visibility and a predictable layout, drastically reducing the probability of accidents.
What’s left for the BR-280 viaducts to be ready
With over 77% of lot 2.2 completed, the heavy work of foundations and pillars is largely done. What remains for the viaducts is the completion of the launching of the main beams, the paving of the road surface, the installation of guardrails and side protection barriers, horizontal and vertical signage, and load tests to verify if the structure supports the weight for which it was designed before being released to traffic. Each of these stages is essential, but none involve the same degree of complexity and risk as the excavation in the hills and the erection of the 35-meter pillars.
The estimated delivery in the second half of 2026 depends on weather conditions and the pace of material supply. Prolonged rains can delay beam launching and paving, and any interruption in the supply of concrete or steel compromises the schedule of a project that consumes enormous volumes of these inputs. The BR-280 viaducts are in the final stretch of a constructive journey that began with the rock blasting in the hills and will end when the first vehicle crosses the track 35 meters high over a valley that until recently was an insurmountable obstacle.
And you, have you seen the pillars of the BR-280 viaducts in person? Do you think the project will transform the journey through northern Santa Catarina? Leave your opinion in the comments.
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