Bridges in Brazil: 5,500 Structures Over 50 Years Old at Risk, and Engineers Demand Immediate Action!

Written by Bruno Teles

Published on 24/02/2025 at 10:47

Updated on 24/02/2025 at 13:45

O alerta foi disparado porque as 5,5 mil pontes no Brasil com mais de 50 anos estão em condições críticas, evidenciando riscos graves de desabamento, como o trágico ocorrido na BR-226. As associações de engenharia exigem ações urgentes e investimentos bilionários para reabilitar essas estruturas e garantir a segurança dos usuários.

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There Are About 5,500 Bridges in Brazil Aged Over 50 Years, A Mark That Reveals Not Only The Grandiosity of The Constructions, But Also A Huge Challenge for National Engineering.

Bridges in Brazil are true landmarks of connection between regions and cultures. However, not everything is festive: many of these structures have already passed the ideal age for use. Of the 113,168 existing road bridges, only 14,874 have been properly inventoried and 12,142 have inspection records. This shows that behind each road, there is a universe of technical and administrative challenges.

Imagine a gear that doesn’t receive proper maintenance; this is what happens when inspections fail to keep pace with natural wear and tear. With 1,039 bridges assessed as “poor” or in “critical” condition, it is clear that the situation of bridges in Brazil needs a more attentive eye and preventive actions. A striking example is the Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge, which, with a technical score of 2, symbolizes the urgency of corrective measures.

Challenges for National Engineering

In December of last year, the structure of BR-226, between Aguiarnópolis (TO) and Estreito (MA), collapsed, causing the death of at least 14 people. This tragic incident highlighted the risks of bridges over 50 years old in Brazil, reinforcing the urgent need for safety and maintenance measures.

Maintaining thousands of structures in use for decades is undoubtedly a job that requires courage and innovation. It’s no different from life: if we leave things to chance, we run unnecessary risks.

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Manifesto of Engineering Associations

To face this gigantic challenge, a group of seven engineering associations joined forces and launched a manifesto with 15 initiatives. Among the entities that signed the document are Abece, ABMS, ABPE, ABNT, Ibracon, Alconpat, and Iabmas. These organizations, with their expertise, are drawing attention to the urgency of rehabilitating bridges in emergency or critical condition.

The manifesto is not just a warning; it is an invitation to action! Among the proposals are the reformulation of the contracting system for bridge recovery, including technical and pricing proposals in bidding processes. There is an urgent need to train and certify professionals for inspection and evaluation, and even to integrate the Maintenance of Structures discipline into the undergraduate and graduate engineering curricula. This integrated approach is key to transforming the current scenario of bridges in Brazil.

Investments and Necessary Costs for Bridges in Brazil

Let’s talk numbers: to rehabilitate bridges considered emergency or critical, the estimated investment is about R$ 1.2 billion nationwide. And if we add the recovery of the works in “poor” condition, costs can reach R$ 5.3 billion. This is a significant amount that, compared to safety and human life, is a fair price to pay.

Bridges in Brazil: 5,500 Structures Over 50 Years Old at Risk, and Engineers Demand Immediate Action!

There Are About 5,500 Bridges in Brazil Aged Over 50 Years, A Mark That Reveals Not Only The Grandiosity of The Constructions, But Also A Huge Challenge for National Engineering.

Challenges for National Engineering

Manifesto of Engineering Associations

Investments and Necessary Costs for Bridges in Brazil

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Bridges in Brazil: 5,500 Structures Over 50 Years Old at Risk, and Engineers Demand Immediate Action!

There Are About 5,500 Bridges in Brazil Aged Over 50 Years, A Mark That Reveals Not Only The Grandiosity of The Constructions, But Also A Huge Challenge for National Engineering.

Challenges for National Engineering

Manifesto of Engineering Associations

Investments and Necessary Costs for Bridges in Brazil

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While Brazil has been discussing bullet trains for 16 years, China delivers 5 new high-speed lines in 2026, surpasses 50,000 km of HSR, and moves 1 billion passengers in a single year.

With a wingspan of 152 meters, 76 tires, and a capacity to carry 1,270 tons, the Boeing Pelican was the giant “flying ship” that promised to cross oceans close to the water on an invisible air cushion beneath its wings.

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