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Structure of 1,244 Meters Advances to Final Phase on the Parana Coast, with Stayed Section Almost United and Accesses in Intense Construction Pace; Government Maintains Delivery Schedule for April 2026 While Expectation Grows Among Residents and Tourists in the Region.
The Guaratuba Bridge, on the Parana coast, has reached 91% physical completion, according to data released by the State News Agency.
With a total length of 1,244 meters and a 320-meter stayed section, the structure is advancing to the final phase, while the government maintains the inauguration schedule for April 2026.
The project is considered strategic for the connection between Guaratuba and Matinhos, replacing the ferry crossing in Guaratuba Bay.
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During high season periods, such as Carnival and summer, the queue of vehicles often extends for kilometers, a scenario that reinforces the expectation for the completion of the work.
Stayed Section of the Guaratuba Bridge Approaches Final Union
The stayed segment, with a central span of 160 meters designated for navigation, is nearing the moment of union between the two sides of the structure.
Technicians on the project refer to this stage as the final assembly of the central span, when the wedge segments executed in successive cantilever come together.
Each advancement in the stayed section occurs in modules of approximately 5.5 meters, with steel framing followed by concrete pouring.
A total of 12 pairs of stays are planned for each of the two main towers, responsible for supporting the deck in the suspended segment.
The towers, approximately 40 meters high from the bridge’s base, already house nearly all the cables envisioned in the structural design.
Each stay consists of dozens of tensioned internal strands, forming the system that ensures stability to the central span.
Numbers of the Project and Main Structure Already Visible
In addition to the stayed section, the project includes pre-molded beams and girders launched along the other segments.
According to the official balance, 160 beams have already been positioned, consolidating the almost complete silhouette of the bridge over the bay.
The project also includes a bike path, pedestrian lane, and four traffic lanes, two in each direction.
The configuration has been planned to absorb the current and future flow of vehicles, especially during peak tourist periods on the Parana coast.
Although the main structure is visibly advanced, work continues at an intense pace on the road accesses.
A significant portion of the remaining 9% is focused precisely on the interconnections with the urban fabric of Guaratuba and Matinhos.
Road Accesses Concentrate Decisive Stage of Construction
On the north side, teams are working on shaping the access ramp and transitioning to the pre-molded section, a stage that requires proper leveling to ensure safety and comfort for drivers.
Machines are compacting the soil and preparing the base that will receive the pavement.
On the south side, progress includes earthworks, drainage, and preparation for the application of hot-mixed asphalt concrete, material planned for the finishing of the access lanes.
Trucks, tractors, and concrete equipment continue to operate daily at the construction site.
The project also includes roundabouts and traffic reorganization in the vicinity, as well as the future deactivation of the ferry boarding structure.
The exact date for the definitive closure of the river crossing has not yet been officially announced.
Impact on Traffic and Expectation on the Parana Coast
While the bridge is not delivered, the dependency on the ferry continues to generate congestion during holidays and events.
On days leading up to festive dates, the queue can reach areas near tourist spots and hotels in the region, affecting residents and visitors.
The promise of reducing travel time is one of the main arguments of the state government to advocate for the investment.
The land crossing is expected to eliminate the wait for the vessel and ease logistical bottlenecks, especially in service transport and supply.
In addition to mobility, the project includes continuous environmental monitoring, as required by legal provisions established in the licensing.
Monitoring includes fauna, flora, and impact control in Guaratuba Bay during all phases of construction.
Operation Rules and Load Restriction on the New Bridge
The future operation of the bridge will have restrictions for vehicles weighing over 26 tons on urban accesses, according to technical information already presented in public meetings.
The limitation aims to reconcile heavy traffic with the existing municipal roads.
Although the main structure can support heavier loads, the road network connecting the two cities imposes operational constraints.
The installation of a police station nearby is planned to monitor compliance with the rules and ensure traffic safety.
With the silhouette almost defined and the central span nearing the joining stage, the work enters the decisive period of structural and roadway finishing.
Final services include paving, installation of barriers, signage, drainage systems, and final adjustments at the connections with the accesses.
The official schedule maintains April 2026 as the target for delivery, but completion depends on the full execution of the remaining stages within the planned timeframe.
The consolidation of the accesses and the completion of the safety systems will be decisive for the release to traffic.
The Guaratuba Bridge represents one of the largest infrastructure interventions ever carried out on the Parana coast, both due to its technical complexity and its direct impact on the daily lives of the local population.
With 91% of the services completed, the current phase combines expectation and attention to final details.
If the central structure is approaching the symbolic stage of unification, the accesses and finishes still require intense effort to meet the schedule announced by the state government.
A travessia é dentro do município de Guaratuba, é o mesmo município de Guaratuba dos dois lados da ponte que está sendo construída. A divisa com o município de Matinhos é próximo a divisa de cerca da estação da Sanepar em direção ao balneário de Caiobá (uma vila) pertencente ao município de Matinhos, é só ir até o local e confirmar com o marco tipográfico existente lá, cravando no concreto. A verdade é que nunca do outro lado da baía foi Matinhos. O férri nunca cobrou a travessia para quem comprovassem ser morador de Guaratuba apresentado os documentos do veículo, é o acordo até hoje. Portanto vamos ser justos e acertos ao nos referirmos a ligação da ponte, pois a baía é a baía de Guaratuba e está completamente dentro do município de Guaratuba, é Guaratuba dos dois lados. Saindo da ignorância. Câmbio final.