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The BR-153 highway between São José do Rio Preto and other cities is facing an increase in tolls and terrible conditions. Drivers are paying more, but the road, with its potholes and erosion, continues to harm their vehicles. Could this be the end of peace of mind for those who depend on this vital highway?
When tolls increase and highway quality declines, the scenario for drivers becomes a real nightmare.
What appeared to be a simple trip on the highway becomes a daily challenge. And the worst part: they are not alone.
Increase in fares and, at the same time, serious damage to vehicles, with suspicions that this situation may be much more common than imagined.
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Toll Adjustment: The Impact on Drivers' Pockets
Starting at midnight on Wednesday, December 25, drivers traveling along the Transbrasiliana Highway (BR-153) received an unpleasant surprise: an increase in toll rates.
The basic fare was increased from R$9,40 to R$9,60 for cars, buses and trucks, while motorcycles, scooters and motorized bicycles now pay R$4,80, instead of the previous R$4,70.
Although the increase was moderate, the impact on the pockets of drivers who frequently use the road did not go unnoticed.
This adjustment, authorized by National Land Transport Agency (ANTT), follows the contractual guidelines of the concessionaire responsible for the highway, based on the Broad National Consumer Price Index (IPCA) and in the economic-financial rebalancing due to works and services carried out. However, the increase in the tariff does not come alone.
Drivers' indignation is even greater due to the poor condition of the track, which, according to reports, have caused serious damage to vehicles.
Poor Track Conditions: Potholes and Erosion That Harm Tradition
Drivers’ dissatisfaction goes beyond the toll increase. The highway is far from offering a smooth journey. Potholes and erosion have become a constant, transforming the simple crossing from one point to another into a real risk of damage to the vehicle's suspension.
A clear example of this comes from Vanderson Peres, a nursing technician who frequently uses BR-153 and was not shy in criticizing the road's infrastructure. “Every week you go there it’s a new hole.
I've had to change the suspension on my vehicle. I recently spent around R$1.200 on it,” he said in an interview with TV TEM.
Vanderson's experience is not unique. For many drivers, the highway is not just a journey, but a real battle against the wear and tear on their vehicles, where maintenance costs are increasingly high.
Furthermore, danger is also at stake, since the uneven pavement puts the safety of those who pass by at risk.
According to Vanderson, “the highway is full of potholes and could cause accidents”. The situation, far from being isolated, affects a large number of drivers who travel along this road every day.
Dealership Responds: Repairs and Causes of Problem
According to Transbrasiliana Triumph, the concessionaire responsible for the highway, there is a constant presence of teams to carry out repairs to the road conditions.
The company guarantees that it carries out superficial and deep repairs, as well as interventions such as “pothole filling”, aiming to improve user security.
However, the dealership points out an aggravating factor: the excess weight of trucks, which, according to her, contributes to the accelerated deterioration of the highway.
Furthermore, Triunfo Transbrasiliana states that its actions aim to maintain safety, but the frequency and intensity of heavy traffic make the situation more difficult to control.
Despite this, the feeling that repairs are not enough to keep the road in good condition persists among drivers.
Inspection of Heavy Vehicles: A Necessary Measure
Inspection by the Federal Highway Police (PRF) has been intensified, especially as the end-of-year festivities approach, when traffic increases significantly.
In 2024, the PRF inspected more than 6.400 cargo vehicles on the stretch of BR-153 that cuts through the region of São José do Rio Preto (SP), retaining more than 208 tons of excess weight.
The PRF warns about the risks of excess weight, which further worsens the wear and tear on the highway and puts the integrity of the road and drivers at risk.
It is estimated that almost 300 thousand vehicles must pass through BR-153 at the end of this year, with 194 thousand of them in the Rio Preto region alone, according to data from the PRF.
This significant number of heavy vehicles travel on a road that is already clearly overloaded and with compromised traffic conditions, which further increases the risk of accidents and material damage.
What to Expect for the Future?
With constant adjustments to toll rates and increasingly poor highway conditions, drivers are facing an increasingly challenging situation.
The combination of higher tariffs and deteriorating infrastructure is only likely to increase discontent.
The lack of definitive and effective solutions to the problem is something that already worries many who depend on this road for their daily activities.
What will the future hold for BR-153? Will the highway be able to handle the increase in traffic without putting drivers' safety at risk? Will the concessionaire and ANTT be able to find a balance between fees and road maintenance conditions? The drivers' struggle seems far from over.
Question for the reader: Have you ever faced problems with the state of the highways in your region? How do you think the authorities should resolve the issue of BR-153?
It's high time for this ANTT ****, which apparently also serves no purpose, to expel Triunfo from the toll plazas. They're all the same.
They will always say the same things, we are working to do our best. It is never their fault. Have you ever seen the material they use to fill holes, it looks like sugar, it melts with any rain, it is not asphalt, it is black sand that sinks when the car runs over it. Unfortunately, we do not have any monitoring of citizens' rights. If you do not pay the IPVA you get a fine, if you drive above the speed limit you get a fine... anyway... they do not fulfill the contract they made and they still get rich at our expense and by deceiving us. This is the country we live in... we have to comply with the laws or we will lose what we have.