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With More Than 1,300 Km of New Asphalt, The Largest Infrastructure Project in MG Focuses on Recovering Tourist Highways and Agricultural Corridors with a New Maintenance Model.
The government of Minas Gerais launched the largest highway infrastructure project in the state’s recent history. Named Infraturismo Minas is the Way, the program aims to restore or fully pave 35 highways, in an effort to reverse decades of neglect and transform the road network in Minas Gerais.
With an investment exceeding R$ 1.5 billion, the initiative covers more than 1,300 km of works in 47 municipalities, connecting tourist regions, agricultural drainage routes, and cities that have long awaited improvements. The project promises not only greater safety and agility but also a paradigm shift in the state’s road management.
The Scenario of Neglect and the Need for a Turning Point
Minas Gerais has a vast state road network, with over 28,000 km. However, a significant portion of these roads was in poor condition, with worn and nearly impassable sections. For years, the Department of Highways of Minas Gerais (DER-MG) conducted interventions, but the corrective approach of “patching holes” proved insufficient.
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This degradation scenario generated economic losses, with increased transportation costs, and drove away tourists from destinations with great potential. It was in this context that the largest infrastructure project in MG emerged, proposing structural recovery and continuous maintenance.
What Is the Infraturismo Minas is the Way Program?
The program’s main focus is the recovery and paving of 35 strategic state highways. The initiative reaches all regions of the state, from Southern Minas to the Jequitinhonha Valley, with special attention to important tourist hubs such as Serra do Cipó, the Diamond Route (Diamantina and Serro), and the Monte Verde region (Camanducaia).
The goal is clear: transform problematic roads into development corridors, facilitating access to tourist destinations, improving agricultural production drainage, and ensuring greater safety for the transport of goods and passengers.
The Revolution in Management, from Patching to the Conserva Pro Model
The major innovation of the largest infrastructure project in MG is the adoption of the Conserva Pro model. Instead of merely correcting existing problems, the new model focuses on preventive and continuous maintenance. This includes regular inspections, mowing, base reconstruction, milling, and signaling, all done before the asphalt is completely degraded.
Of the 35 highways included, 20 will be fully paved with new layers of sub-base, base, and CBUQ (Hot Mixed Bituminous Concrete), a material with greater adhesion and durability. The use of technologies such as rubberized asphalt and modern management tools, such as the Sincor-MG system for real-time monitoring, promises to extend the pavement’s lifespan and provide more transparency to the process.
Ongoing Works and the Delivery Schedule
Since March 2024, the Conserva Pro model has been active in 14 of the 40 regional units of DER-MG. Works on important stretches, such as the corridor of MG-010 (Serra do Cipó) and MG-060 (between Esmeraldas and São José da Varginha), are already underway.
The official schedule foresees the immediate start of works on the announced stretches, with the delivery of the first recovered highways expected between the end of 2025 and the total completion of the program anticipated for the end of 2026. To support the operation, a large fleet of heavy equipment and mobile asphalt plants has been mobilized.
The Impact on Tourism and the Economy of Minas Gerais
The improvement of roads has a direct impact on the economy. Currently, 78% of visitors arrive in Minas Gerais by highway. In 2024, the state welcomed more than 32 million tourists, and the expectation is that safer and more comfortable roads will further increase this flow.
Destinations such as the Serra do Cipó National Park, Diamantina, and the Caparaó National Park will be directly benefited. The warming of tourism boosts an entire chain of services, from inns to restaurants. According to data from IBGE and the State Department of Culture and Tourism of Minas Gerais (Secult-MG), the sector generated over 20,000 new jobs just in 2024, and the expectation is that the largest infrastructure project in MG will further accelerate this growth.
What do you think of this major project in Minas Gerais? Which other Brazilian state needs a similar initiative?
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