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This Monday morning (5) was marked by intense movement on the main highways of Rio Grande do Sul, especially on the routes connecting the North Coast to the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, due to the return from the holiday. Despite the high volume of vehicles, the traffic flowed better than expected, without the prolonged congestion recorded between Sunday afternoon and evening.
The information was released by the Correio do Povo, based on data from the concessionaires responsible for the road administration and traffic flow monitoring. According to the surveys, even with thousands of drivers returning simultaneously, the traffic distribution throughout the morning prevented major delays.
BR-290 and BR-101 Concentrate Return from the North Coast
On the BR-290 (Freeway), the main link between the North Coast and Porto Alegre, traffic upon arrival in the Capital was considered smooth throughout the morning, even lower than expected for a typical Monday after a holiday. The scenario contrasted with the congestion recorded on Sunday, when there was slow traffic at various points on the highway.
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In the section near the Santo Antônio da Patrulha toll plaza on BR-290, heading toward Porto Alegre, over 20,600 vehicles passed by until 11 AM, with an average of 67 vehicles per minute, indicating intense but steady flow.
On the BR-101, another key route for the return from the coast, the toll plaza at Três Cachoeiras, heading Torres–Osório, recorded more than 8,200 vehicles until 11 AM, with an average of 24 vehicles per minute. The elevated traffic reflected the return of drivers who spent the holiday in cities such as Torres, Capão da Canoa, Tramandaí, and Imbé.
Highways in the Interior Also Register High Traffic
The return movement of those who spent the holiday in cities in the State’s interior also impacted other important highways. On the BR-386, in Paverama, heading toward Porto Alegre, over 4,300 vehicles passed by until 11 AM, with an average of 12 vehicles per minute, with no reports of prolonged congestion.
On the state roads, the flow was also significant. On the ERS-040, in Capivari do Sul, over 4,100 vehicles were recorded during the morning. Meanwhile, on the ERS-389 (Estrada do Mar), in Osório, 6,800 vehicles passed until 11 AM, while on the ERS-030, in Tramandaí, the movement reached about 7,000 vehicles in the same period.
According to the data, despite the concentration of traffic at different points, the circulation remained stable, without reports of prolonged stops or major accidents.
Porto Alegre Concentrates Air and Road Return
In addition to the roads, the return from the holiday was also reflected in public transportation. The Salgado Filho International Airport in Porto Alegre reported a significant increase in passenger traffic throughout the morning.
According to estimates from the concessionaire Fraport, 364,871 passengers used domestic flights between December 18 and January 5, 2026. During the same period, international flights totaled 20,058 passengers, with the availability of 2,642 domestic flights and 154 international flights.
At the Porto Alegre Bus Station, the administration estimated the circulation of around 25,000 people during the New Year holiday. Since December 20, 280 daily schedules have been made available, in addition to 300 extra schedules, mainly to accommodate passengers heading to cities in the State’s interior.
