Portuguese 
The dual tunnel planned for Morro dos Cavalos in Palhoça will range between 2.2 and 2.3 kilometers, is part of a complex estimated at R$3.1 billion, and may receive approval by the end of the first half of 2027 while ANTT discusses the transfer of the BR-101 section to another concession in Santa Catarina.
A new dual tunnel is under evaluation to cross Morro dos Cavalos in Palhoça, part of Greater Florianópolis, in one of the most sensitive areas of BR-101 in Santa Catarina. The current proposal includes two structures with lengths between 2.2 and 2.3 kilometers, as well as a bridge and additional lanes, all estimated at R$3.1 billion.
According to a report from NSC Total published on September 8, 2026, the project is currently under review, and there is an expectation that construction may be authorized by the end of the first half of 2027. The process also involves a potential transfer of the segment between kilometers 231 and 235 from the Northern concession to the Southern concession of BR-101.
Dual Tunnel Would Be Up to 2.3 Kilometers at Morro dos Cavalos
The technical update indicates varying dimensions depending on the direction of the highway. The structures are expected to range between approximately 2.2 and 2.3 kilometers, reflecting the planned layout to cross Morro dos Cavalos.
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The dual tunnel would be installed in the BR-101 section between kilometers 231 and 235 in Palhoça. Currently, this segment belongs to the Northern concession, managed by Autopista Litoral Sul, although the development of the project is being conducted by Via Costeira, responsible for the Southern concession.
Transfer of the Concession is One of the Project’s Components
The involvement of the Southern concessionaire is due to negotiations for the segment to leave the current Northern concession and be integrated into the Southern concession. This change is still subject to ongoing regulatory discussions.
The topic is being discussed at the National Land Transportation Agency, known as ANTT. The eventual transfer would allow the concession structure responsible for the Southern segment to also take over the section where Morro dos Cavalos is located.
Complex Has an Estimated Investment of R$3.1 Billion
The projected cost is not limited to the excavations of the dual tunnel. The entire complex is estimated at approximately R$3.1 billion, considering other necessary interventions to reorganize traffic in the region.
Of this total, about R$ 2.3 billion are associated with the tunnels. The remaining funds would primarily be allocated for the implementation of additional lanes and the construction of a bridge over the Maciambu River.
Bridge and additional lanes would complete intervention on BR-101
The proposal stems from the understanding that simply crossing the hill through tunnels would not solve all the bottlenecks in the section. Therefore, the planning includes changes in access and the capacity of the highway.
Additional lanes and a new bridge over the Maciambu River are part of a package estimated at R$ 3.1 billion. The aim is to integrate the tunnels into a broader traffic solution rather than creating an isolated structure.
Current project revives plan developed by DNIT a decade ago
Although the design is again under discussion, the idea of constructing a dual tunnel at Morro dos Cavalos is not new. The current review uses as its basis a plan developed by the National Department of Transport Infrastructure, DNIT, a decade ago.
At that time, a bid was issued to enable the construction. However, the bidding was not completed, and the process was ultimately canceled in 2016, halting an alternative that is now returning for technical and regulatory evaluation.
Ten years later, project needs to meet new rules and demands
Reviving the previous project does not simply mean using the same documents. The current work plans to update technical parameters and adapt the proposal to the prevailing regulations, in addition to considering the projected vehicle demand for the coming years.
The review also takes into account changes that have occurred on BR-101 itself since the original project was developed. The infrastructure needs to be sized not only for the current flow but also for the anticipated future growth of traffic in the corridor.
Morro dos Cavalos is considered a critical point of the highway
The justification for the project is not limited to capacity expansion. The stretch is marked by incidents that can disrupt traffic, particularly accidents and issues related to the terrain.
Morro dos Cavalos is identified as a critical point on BR-101, which is why the project is also presented as a road safety intervention. The potential for landslides adds complexity to a heavily utilized route in Santa Catarina.
Landslides have already caused traffic disruptions
One of the recent events noted in the area’s history occurred in April 2024, when a landslide interrupted traffic at Morro dos Cavalos.
Accidents are also among the factors that can disrupt traffic flow in the region. The construction of the dual tunnel aims to create a safer and more predictable configuration for vehicles passing through the section.
Authorization is expected by the end of the first half of 2027
Despite the project being back at the center of discussions, the works are not yet authorized. The expectation is that this authorization could occur by the end of the first half of 2027.
This timeline depends on the progress of the technical review and discussions involving the Ministry of Transportation, ANTT (National Agency of Land Transport), and concessionaires. Therefore, the deadline represents an expectation of the ongoing process rather than a definitive start date for construction.
Change may involve another 67 kilometers of BR-101
The discussions surrounding concessions are not limited to the approximately four kilometers that encompass Morro dos Cavalos. The so-called Eixão, another segment of BR-101 in the Greater Florianópolis area, may also be included in the South concession.
Considering the segments being analyzed, up to 67 kilometers may undergo a change of concessionaire. This broadens the scope of negotiations beyond just the tunnel and ties the project to a larger reorganization of the toll road concession.
Dual tunnel could change passage through one of the bottlenecks of BR-101
If the project advances through regulatory and financial stages, the dual tunnel could significantly change the passage through Morro dos Cavalos. The solution combines underground structures up to 2.3 kilometers long, extra lanes, and a bridge, within an estimate that exceeds R$ 3 billion.
The return of a project canceled in 2016 also illustrates how major infrastructure projects can span different planning cycles before execution. In your opinion, is a R$ 3.1 billion investment in Morro dos Cavalos the right solution for this section of BR-101, or should other interventions be prioritized? Leave your assessment in the comments.
