The highways in this state are undergoing a revolution! The state is replacing asphalt with concrete, which offers twice the durability and less maintenance. Is the rest of Brazil ready to follow suit?
When the subject is road infrastructure, Brazil seems to be taking inspiration from solutions that go beyond traditional asphalt.
The State of Paranรก, for example, has adopted an innovative and much more lasting approach to its highways.
But why abandon asphalt, present in almost the entire Brazilian road network, in favor of concrete? And what are the real advantages of this model?
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The answer is in your durability and lower maintenance costs over the years.
A concrete highway offers twice the service life compared to asphalt pavement, promising more than 20 years of service before any intervention, while asphalt needs constant maintenance over a decade.
According to experts, this not only reduces operating costs, but also reduces construction time and disruption to customers. motoristas.
Inspired by the USA and Germany
The model adopted by Paranรก is inspired by American and German highways, recognized worldwide for their efficiency and durability.
โAs a state with a strong agricultural and industrial production, we sought out the best infrastructure solutions adopted worldwide. Concrete roads are more durable options that can better withstand heavy traffic,โ said the Secretary of Infrastructure and Logistics, Sandro Alex.
In practical terms, the state is renewing around 340 kilometers of highways with concrete in thirteen different sections.
Among them are the PRC-280, which connects General Carneiro to Pato Branco, and the PR-180, between Goioerรช and Quarto Centenรกrio. Projects also include the duplication of the Rodovia dos Minรฉrios and the Western Bypass of Cascavel, as well as restorations on the PR-151, between Ponta Grossa and Palmeira.
Economic and operational advantages
Rigid concrete pavement has significant operational advantages. In addition to durability, concrete roads require less maintenance over time, which means fewer interruptions for those who use these roads.
โMaintenance on rigid pavement happens much later than on asphalt and is punctual and simple,โ said Janice Kazmierczak Soares, technical director of Paranรก Highway Department (DER/PR).
Another operational advantage is the comfort provided to drivers. Concrete does not heat up as much as asphalt on hot days, and its textured surface ensures greater tire grip, reducing the risk of aquaplaning.
At night, lighter pavement also improves visibility, making driving safer.
Advanced technology for monitoring
To prove the quality of the new highways, Paranรก used innovative pavement monitoring technology.
The call Traffic Speed โโDeflectometer Device (TSDd), a type of truck equipped with lasers, covered 60 kilometers of the PRC-280 in just three hours, evaluating the resistance of the pavement.
This test, carried out in partnership with Votorantim and the engineering company Roadrunner, ensured that the road is capable of withstanding heavy traffic for many years.
Whitetopping: innovation in the use of concrete
A technique called whitetopping is being used on some stretches of highways. This method consists of applying a layer of concrete over an existing asphalt base, making the work faster and cheaper.
A successful example of this technique occurred on the PRC-280, between Palmas and General Carneiro, where 60 kilometers of road were renewed with concrete in just one year.
Long-term economy
Although the initial cost of building with concrete may be higher, it pays off in the long run.
Feasibility studies show that rigid pavement is more economically advantageous in 5 or 10 years, as highlighted by Janice Kazmierczak Soares.
In some cases, such as the PRC-280 section, concrete proved to be cheaper during the construction, due to the road conditions and heavy truck traffic.
Furthermore, reduced maintenance It directly impacts public coffers, allowing the state to save on repair contracts and reduce the frequency of interventions, freeing up highways for traffic for longer.
History of concrete roads in Brazil
Although the use of concrete roads is traditional in many parts of the world, in Brazil, this type of pavement ended up being relegated to the background for a long time.
According to Dejalma Frasson Jรบnior, regional manager of the Brazilian Portland Cement Association (ABCP), the preference for asphalt was consolidated during the construction of Brasรญlia and with the founding of Petrobras.
โConcrete roads are very traditional, with more than 100 years of historyโ, he stated.
In recent years, however, the approximation of prices between asphalt and concrete, in addition to technological improvements in cement production, has sparked interest in rigid pavement roads.
Those highways They are capable of withstanding heavy truck and bus traffic, being an efficient solution for states like Paranรก, which have an economy based on industrial and agricultural sectors.
List of works with concrete in Paranรก
Among the main works in progress or already completed in Paranรก, the following stand out:
- Three lots for the revitalization of PRC-280 (General Carneiro to Pato Branco)
- Revitalization of the connection between Goioerรช and Quarto Centenรกrio
- Duplication of the Western Contour of Cascavel
- Duplication of the connection between Guarapuava and Turvo (three lots)
- Doubling of the connection between Matinhos and Pontal do Paranรก
- Paving of the connection between Mandirituba and Sรฃo Josรฉ dos Pinhais
- Revitalization of PR-151, between Ponta Grossa and Palmeira
- Metropolitan Corridor of the Capital โ New Southern Contour of Curitiba
With all these changes, Paranรก sets an example in Brazil in the adoption of new technologies for road infrastructure.
The concrete model, inspired by the United States and Germany, is a bet that can be replicated in other regions of the country.
Is Brazil prepared to follow Paranรก's example and leave asphalt behind on the roads of the future?