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Drivers in São Paulo are facing new developments with 18 new toll booths and highway concessions that promise modernization and safety, but also generate criticism and concerns. The implementation of the automatic toll system (free flow) and projects such as highway widening are divisive.
If you are driver in Sao Paulo, get ready for a change that promises to affect your commute and your wallet.
A new road concession project is about to transform Rota Sorocabana into one of the most impactful road projects in the state.
But what does this mean for those who use the roads daily? There will be 18 new tolls and billions in investments.
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However, the promise of improvements is accompanied by concerns about costs and environmental impacts.
Concession of Rota Sorocabana: what is at stake
The Rota Sorocabana, which includes 460 kilometers of highways, is the focus of the concession project recently published by the government of São Paulo.
According to the notice, the auction for this concession is scheduled for October 30, 2025, and proposals can be submitted until the 25th of the same month.
The main objective is to transfer the administration of highways currently managed by the Department of Highways (THE) for the private sector.
Among them is the SP-79, a road that connects the Sorocaba region to the BR-116, passing through areas of great environmental importance, such as the Serra do Mar.
According to the government, the 30-year concession foresees an investment of R$8,7 billion, which will be used to widen roads, build marginal roads and other works aimed at improving road infrastructure in 17 cities.
The concession also includes sections managed by CCR Viaoeste, whose contract ends in 2025.
Planned investments and improvements
Among the highlights of the project is the duplication of the Bunjiro Nakao Highway on the stretch between Vargem Grande Paulista and Ibiúna, which was the subject of a recent bid worth R$152,5 million.
This investment should also benefit the Piedade region, with significant improvements.
Another road being considered is the João Leme dos Santos Highway, which will have new sections duplicated in Salto de Pirapora.
SP-79, in turn, will receive important interventions between Salto and Juquiá, with the aim of increasing safety, especially in the mountainous stretch between Tapiraí and Juquiá, known for sharp curves and difficulties for articulated vehicles.
The project also includes improvements such as the construction of escape ramps, shoulders and additional lanes on hills.
However, as a large part of these works will take place in environmentally protected areas, licensing will depend on strict approval, as the Atlantic Forest biome is protected by federal laws and recognized as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
The impact of new tolls
With the implementation of the 18 new tolls, the automatic collection system — known as free flow or free flow — will be a novelty.
This model, which does away with traditional plazas, will use gantries to calculate fares based on the distance traveled.
Estimated values vary between R$0,86 and R$12,20 per section, with charges in both directions.
According to the Secretariat of Investment Partnerships (SPI), the technology offers greater agility and safety to drivers, in addition to reducing the impact on traffic.
New concession for Raposo Tavares
Another ongoing project is the concession of the Nova Raposo lot, which will include significant works on the Raposo Tavares Highway between the capital of São Paulo and Cotia.
Currently under the administration of DER, the section will gain six new automatic toll gates and will require around R$7,1 billion in investments.
The planned works include the construction of marginal roads and viaducts, but they face criticism from environmentalists and local residents.
Concerns include expropriations, interventions in parks and green areas and possible social impacts.
Even with changes to the original design, the government ensured that the most relevant works will be maintained.
Controversies and challenges
Despite promises of improvements, the project faces resistance. Environmentalists warn of the negative impacts on protected areas of Serra do Mar and urban stretches of Raposo Tavares.
Furthermore, the increase in transportation costs worries drivers and truck drivers who depend on the roads daily.
According to experts, the transition to a private concession model brings benefits, such as greater efficiency in road management.
However, they emphasize that it is essential to ensure that planned investments are fulfilled and that tariffs remain fair for users.
How does this affect you?
With so many new developments and changes on the horizon, drivers need to prepare for new costs and changes in the way they use the highways.
The automatic toll system promises to make everyday life easier, but it also raises questions about its effectiveness and financial impact.
And you, what do you think about this wave of concessions and the new tolls in São Paulo? Leave your opinion in the comments: are the improvements worth the cost?
Lula's federal government plans to build 55 toll plazas in the next 2 years