Mato Grosso approves tunnel project to bypass Portão do Inferno on MT‑251

Portão do Inferno MT‑251 tunnel Sinfra‑MT Cuiabá Ibama

The State Secretariat of Infrastructure and Logistics (Sinfra‑MT) approved the engineering ante‑project for a 513‑metre tunnel on the MT‑251 highway, known as the Portão do Inferno stretch between Cuiabá and Chapada dos Guimarães. The tunnel, budgeted at roughly R$ 72.5 million, is intended to replace the hazardous cliff section that suffers frequent rock slides and road closures. The project follows a failed previous tender and will be put out to a new public bidding after the technical study is finalized. Environmental licensing is still required; the State has submitted a new request to Ibama, as the existing permits only cover surface works. Once built, the tunnel is expected to improve safety and traffic flow for motorists on this critical corridor.

Entities: Chapada dos Guimarães · Cuiabá · Cáceres municipality · Eliene Liberato Dias · Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (Ibama) · Mato Grosso state government · Paratinga municipality · Portão do Inferno · Secretaria de Estado de Infraestrutura e Logística (Sinfra‑MT) · Tom Santana

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Mayor Eliene Liberato Dias, state deputy Valmir Moretto and the Mato Grosso state government support the Anel Viário Sul project. (Political support)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The tunnel is intended to permanently eliminate rock‑slide blockages that have caused frequent closures for more than two years. (Project rationale)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Mayor Tom Santana said the municipality is providing equipment, materials and workers for the Paratinga road repairs and will prioritize hiring local labour. (Mayor's comment)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The ring road will divert heavy trucks away from Cáceres city centre, improving traffic safety and reducing road wear. (Project goal)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Mato Grosso government approved an ante‑project for a 513‑metre tunnel at the Portão do Inferno stretch of the MT‑251 highway. (State government decision)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Construction has begun on the Anel Viário Sul ring road in Cáceres, linking BR‑070 to MT‑343. (Project initiation)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Paratinga is repairing approximately 50 kilometres of rural roads through a partnership with a private company. (Municipal project)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The tunnel project is awaiting an environmental licence from Ibama before a new tender can be launched. (Regulatory status)