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BR-101 Starts New Concession Phase with Billion-Dollar Investments, Toll Exemption for Motorcycles, Expanded Camera Monitoring, and Hundreds of Kilometers in Duplication and Structural Improvement Works.
BR-101, one of the main road connections in the country, begins a new concession phase with changes that directly impact drivers.
The contract signed this Tuesday (26) ensures EcoRodovias’ continued administration of the stretch between Mucuri, in Bahia, and Mimoso do Sul, in Espírito Santo, for another 24 years.
The publication in the Official Gazette, made this Thursday (28), formalizes the measures that are now in effect, including toll exemption for motorcyclists and a package of works estimated at R$ 10 billion.
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Concession Redefined After Deadlock with Previous Contract
The signing of the amendment occurs after a review process.
In 2022, EcoRodovias requested the federal government to return the stretch, citing the current model’s infeasibility.
The request led to negotiations with the National Land Transportation Agency (ANTT) and analysis by the Federal Court of Accounts, resulting in a new agreement with redefined deadlines and parameters.
With the restructuring, the operator previously known as Ecovias 101 will adopt the name Ecovias Capixaba.
The new contract was formalized following the company’s victory in an auction held in June, at B3, in São Paulo, which defined the management and investment criteria.
Tolls with Updated Rules
The agreement brings changes to the fee collection process. All toll plazas will have specific accesses for motorcycles, which will not pay fees.
Additionally, drivers using automatic payment tags will be entitled to a basic discount of 5%.
There will also be an additional discount for frequent users of categories 1, 3, and 5, which include cars, pickup trucks, and vans.
This discount will be progressive, based on the number of times the vehicle passes through the same plaza, in the same direction, within a month.
According to ANTT, the model aims to balance revenue collection with benefits for those who travel more frequently.
Works and Improvements Package
The contract provides for R$ 7 billion in infrastructure and R$ 3.31 billion in operation and service.
Among the confirmed works are 172.8 kilometers of duplication, including the northern stretch, and 41.1 kilometers of additional lanes between Mucuri (BA) and Linhares (ES).
Also planned are 33.6 kilometers of marginal roads to improve local traffic flow.
The planning also includes urban bypasses in Ibiraçu (4.2 km) and Fundão (11.4 km).
Additionally, 14 new grade-separated interchanges, 39 at-grade turnarounds, and the construction of 40 pedestrian overpasses are scheduled.
For public transport, 75 new bus stops will be implemented along the route.
Another highlight is the implementation of two Rest Areas for truck drivers, operating continuously.
The project also provides for 34 wildlife crossings to reduce accidents involving wild animals.
Expanded Monitoring and Technology
In the area of safety, the highway will have 167 closed-circuit cameras, which will increase monitoring coverage of the granted stretch to 70%.
Ecovias Capixaba will also provide inspection vehicles, tow trucks, ambulances, water tank trucks, and support vehicles for emergency assistance.
According to the concessionaire, the operational reinforcement aims to reduce response times in case of accidents or breakdowns.
The performance will be monitored by performance indicators, defined by ANTT, to ensure compliance with deadlines and quality standards.
Extension and Scope of the Concession
Ecovias Capixaba will be responsible for 478.7 kilometers of BR-101, a stretch that passes through 25 municipalities in Espírito Santo and reaches Mucuri, in Bahia.
The highway is considered strategic for connecting the Northeast and Southeast, concentrating freight transport and tourism flow.
With the investments, the federal government and the concessionaire aim for improvements in traffic flow and road safety.
The duplications and urban bypasses, for example, aim to reduce historical bottlenecks at high-traffic points, such as accesses to urban areas.
While the first adjustments come into effect with toll exemptions for motorcycles and discounts, larger works are expected to be executed over the coming years, following the timeline defined in the contract.
The expectation is that, with the completion of the interventions, travel time will be reduced and accident rates will decrease.
But the question that remains is: will users feel these improvements in their daily lives as quickly as they hope?
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