A 1.727-meter bridge on BR-153, built for R$233 million, has become an example of public waste in Brazil: the work is complete, but without access, it remains unused and causes outrage.
An imposing bridge, 1.727 meters long, is ready over the Araguaia River, connecting the cities of São Geraldo do Araguaia (PA) and Xambioá (TO) via the BR-153 highway. However, this project, which cost the public coffers R$233 million, remains unusable due to the lack of access. The government's promise of an essential connection for transportation and the region's economy has been paralyzed due to lack of planning and bureaucratic obstacles. Check out DNIT's position regarding the unusable bridge.
A bridge without a path
O National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT) states that the construction of the bridge is 99% complete, with only asphalt paving and signage remaining. The problem? Access roads, both on the Pará and Tocantins sides, are only 2,2% complete. Residents of the region see the imposing structure, but have no way of using it.
This situation has been going on for years. The work order was signed in 2017, but construction only actually began in 2020 due to legal disputes. Since then, the deadlines announced by the government have been constantly postponed.
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Growing investments and unfulfilled promises on the highway by the Government
Since the beginning of the works, costs have increased significantly. In July 2024, the accumulated investment was R$ 215 million. Just one month later, the amount reached R $ million 233, an increase of R$485 thousand per day on average. Despite the expenses, deadlines continue to be missed.
Recent promises indicated that the bridge would be opened to traffic in November 2024 by means of a temporary ramp. However, this prediction did not come to fruition. Now, the DNIT states that land expropriations for access roads should only be resolved by March 2025, further delaying completion.
Who is responsible and main impacts generated
Responsibility for the bridge was divided between two contracts: one for the construction of the reinforced concrete structure, led by a consortium of companies, and another for access and lighting, managed by Teto Construtora SA. This separation may have contributed to the lack of coordination between project stages.
Experts question this strategy. According to an engineer consulted by the report, “a single consortium should be responsible for the entire project, from the bridge to the access roads. This would avoid delays and integration problems between the different parts of the project.”
While the bridge is still open, residents and transporters continue to rely on ferries to cross the Araguaia River. This method, in addition to being expensive, is slower and less efficient. One local resident complained: “We pay for the crossing and wait for a bridge that they promised to be toll-free. I’ll only believe it when I see it.”
The bridge is crucial for the flow of agricultural products and other goods between Pará and Tocantins, promising to reduce logistics costs and boost the local economy. The delay in completing the project represents a lost opportunity for regional development.
The lack of planning in Brazil
The situation with the bridge on the BR-153 highway illustrates a recurring problem with large-scale projects in Brazil: the lack of integrated planning. Rodolfo Rizzotto, from SOS Estradas, compared the situation to the construction of a building with no entrance. “You have a beautiful building, but no one can get in because there is no authorization to build the entrance. It took seven years and three different governments for a 1,7 km bridge,” he criticized.
He also highlighted the disparity with other countries. “While Brazil takes years to complete a bridge, India built a 1.300 km highway with multiple lanes, bridges and flyovers in just five years.”
What can be done?
DNIT stated that it is working to resolve the necessary expropriations and that the rains are also hindering the progress of the works. However, the lack of clear and reliable deadlines generates distrust among residents and highway users.
To prevent situations like this from happening again, experts advocate greater integration between the planning and execution stages of the works, in addition to transparency in schedules and costs. “Brazil is in a hurry to finish works, but it cannot even complete the ones that are almost finished,” Rizzotto highlighted.
Ah!! DENIT. Always DENIT. On BR 381 in Minas Gerais towards Ipatinga, we have two-lane viaducts that have been ready for years and that lead nowhere. Not to mention tunnels with speed bumps at the entrance and exit! A scandal. That's how the band plays in our suffering Brazil!!
Absurd, I passed by this bridge a few days ago. It's unbelievable. And look, they're building another one in Marabá.
The central (mis)government in this plot is called Bolsonaro, who has never been concerned with legal issues. I'll leave PEPiNO for someone else.