Portuguese 
Spanish 
Large-scale duplication over the Tietê River progresses in the interior of São Paulo, involves one of the main road structures of the state, and focuses expectations on mobility, safety, and regional logistics in a connection used by drivers, transporters, pedestrians, and cyclists.
The duplication works of the Engenheiro Gilberto Paim Pamplona Bridge, on the Dr. Mário Gentil Highway (SP-333), have reached 75% completion and are expected to be concluded by 2026, according to the São Paulo Government.
Located between Novo Horizonte and Pongaí, in the northwest of São Paulo, the structure crosses the Tietê River at a point considered strategic for regional traffic, especially as it connects productive areas and corridors used for freight transport.
Without replacing the current crossing, the project plans the construction of a parallel bridge to increase circulation capacity on SP-333, while the existing structure will be revitalized and adapted for use by pedestrians and cyclists.
-
City Hall spends almost R$ 2 million on a wooden bridge only 2.5 meters wide to prevent the isolation of 5,000 people, but information about lifespan, load, and maintenance does not appear in public disclosures.
-
More than 2,100 trucks transported 16,200 cubic meters of concrete without interruption to create the foundation of the tallest skyscraper in the western United States and break a world record.
-
The man who started in construction with his own house founded a company in 1957, went through a banking crisis in 1987, and ended up connected to 16,500 houses in Houston.
-
Builders challenged experts, erected a 16-story building using only reinforced concrete when the known limit was six floors, and proved that skyscrapers would never be the same again.
The investment reported for the work is R$ 387.3 million, in values updated to April 2026, according to official publications and records released by Agência SP, linked to the São Paulo government.
Duplication of the Engenheiro Gilberto Paim Pamplona Bridge advances over the Tietê River
Pointed out by the state government as the largest bridge in São Paulo, the Engenheiro Gilberto Paim Pamplona Bridge is about 2.4 kilometers long and is located between kilometers 229 and 232 of SP-333.
In this section, the highway crosses the Tietê River and integrates the connection between municipalities in the interior of São Paulo, making the work relevant for regional travel, goods transport, and daily circulation of residents.
On the eastbound of the highway, the new bridge is being constructed to operate with two traffic lanes after the completion of the works, while the current structure will receive lighting and safety improvements.
The duplication aims to reorganize the flow of vehicles in a long crossing, used by drivers, transporters, and residents of the region, reducing bottlenecks and better separating the directions of circulation in the section.
Work on SP-333 requires complex operation on the river
Due to occurring directly over the Tietê River, the duplication requires a complex engineering operation, using barges, support vessels, and specific equipment for services performed on the riverbed.
At the foundations of the new structure, the project includes 124 support piles, of which 112 will be within the river, requiring technical planning to ensure stability and allow safe progress of the work fronts.
In addition to the foundations, the construction uses precast concrete beams and the method of successive cantilevers in the central span, a solution adopted to enable the work without interrupting navigation on the Tietê-Paraná Waterway.
Since the waterway is involved in regional freight transport, maintaining navigation during the services has become a central point of planning, avoiding significant blockages for local economic activity.
Strategic connection for the São Paulo interior
In the São Paulo road network, SP-333 functions as a circulation axis between agricultural, industrial, and urban areas, playing an important role in the flow of production and travel between interior cities.
Between Novo Horizonte and Pongaí, the bridge over the Tietê River concentrates part of this regional movement, which is why the duplication is treated by the state government as a strategic intervention for São Paulo logistics.
With the new structure, the official expectation is to increase traffic capacity and make circulation safer, especially because the separation of flows reduces conflicts between vehicles in opposite directions.
Besides the impact on freight transport, the improvement of the road connection should facilitate daily commutes between nearby municipalities, serving drivers who depend on SP-333 for work, services, and regional circulation.
By strengthening the connection between the highway and the logistics network, the project aims to reduce operational limitations in a sensitive crossing over the Tietê River, especially for heavy vehicles and longer-distance trips.
Current bridge will be repurposed for pedestrians and cyclists
After the delivery of the new structure, the existing bridge will not be deactivated or demolished, as the project plans its revitalization for pedestrian and cyclist use, with enhanced lighting and safety adjustments.
With this change, the old crossing will serve a complementary function, separated from the main vehicle traffic, preserving the already established structure and expanding non-motorized mobility alternatives.
In projects of this magnitude, reorganizing the use of structures allows for better distribution of crossing functions, allowing the new bridge to concentrate road traffic and dedicating the old one to safer local movements.
Duplication delivery is scheduled for 2026
The forecast released by the Government of São Paulo indicates that the duplication will be completed by 2026, although the schedule depends on the completion of the structures, the revitalization of the existing bridge, and the adjustments for full operation.
With 75% of the work completed, the project has entered an advanced stage within a set of investments aimed at São Paulo’s road infrastructure, focusing on traffic capacity, road safety, and logistical efficiency.
When the new bridge becomes operational, SP-333 should have better traffic flow distribution between Novo Horizonte and Pongaí, reducing limitations in a regional connection used by drivers, transporters, pedestrians, and cyclists.
