Project foresees RS-389 modernization and potential for heavy truck traffic release
The government of Rio Grande do Sul has announced the start of technical research into a replica of the RS-389, known as Estrada do Mar, meeting a demand that motorists and residents of the north coast have been waiting for for more than 20 years.
Jubil Kostella, Secretary of the Ministry of Logistics and Transport, confirmed that the Road Autonomous Authority (Daer) will be responsible for hiring a company to prepare the preliminary study, which is expected to begin in 2026. The preliminary project will define the schedule, costs and stages of replication, in addition to analyzing the structural feasibility of freeing heavy truck traffic, which is currently prohibited on the roads.
He said overlap was essential for the development of the North Coast’s economy and tourism.
“The idea is to widen the motorway. There is currently no shoulder. There are no cheap jobs, but we need to think about what this duplication means for the development of the north coast,” Jubil Costera stressed.
Daer CEO Luciano Faustino said the area planned for expansion already belongs to the state and would not require expropriation, which should reduce costs and speed up enforcement.
Opened in 1990, Estrada do Mar is located approximately 90 kilometers between Osorio and Torres. The plan envisages that the work will be divided into sections, giving priority to the section between Osorio and Capán da Canoa, where the flow is stronger and the accident rate is higher.
Provincial Deputy Luciano Silveira (MDB) has held meetings with the Provincial Executive to emphasize the importance of duplication, taking into account the region’s population and economic growth, and to make the project a reality.
The single-lane, shoulderless highway was originally designed for passenger cars as a replacement for BR-101, but now also accommodates buses and light trucks. This scenario highlights the urgent need for modernization to ensure traffic safety and fluidity.
Information available: GZH
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