BR-040 duplication works begin in Congonhas

EPR Via Mineira has commenced the first stage of duplication works on the BR-040 highway in Congonhas, Minas Gerais. The construction is concentrated between kilometers 602 and 612, spanning the area from the Pires neighborhood to the vicinity of the Viaduto do Profeta.

Initial activities include mechanized cleaning of the roadside, earthmoving to level the terrain, installation of drainage systems and culverts, and work on rocky sections. Concrete barriers are being stockpiled to eventually provide physical separation between traffic flows. The project also involves vegetation removal authorized by Ibama, which is being conducted alongside specialized fauna monitoring teams.

While most work is occurring outside the driving lanes, certain activities in rocky areas may require temporary, signaled closures. The long-term project aims to transform the current multi-lane system into a divided highway with shoulders, marginal roads, a cycle path, pedestrian walkways, and a footbridge at km 607. Additionally, the concessionaire is finalizing projects to address traffic bottlenecks in other six-kilometer segments of the highway.