Brazilian highways see safety gains from concessions amid lingering poor conditions

A recent analysis by the Confederação Nacional dos Transportes shows toll‑road concessions in Brazil are associated with lower accident death rates and better infrastructure compared with roads managed directly by states or the federal government. Example: the fully concessioned BR‑040 between Juiz de Fora and Belo Horizonte outperforms the adjacent federal BR‑267 under DNIT control.

The CNT 2025 road survey indicates the share of highways classified as "good or excellent" rose from 32.9% to 37.9% between 2024 and 2025, while sections rated "poor or very poor" fell from 26.6% to 19.1%. Nevertheless, 62 % of the network remains in regular, bad or very bad condition, highlighting a persistent infrastructure deficit. Private investment has reduced poor segments on concessioned roads from 1,609 km to 618 km in one year, but public‑road deterioration continues.

Experts say attracting private capital beyond the main corridors, securing public funding and addressing a shortage of skilled labor are essential to close the gap. Ongoing projects such as a 5‑km tunnel on the BR‑040, led by the concessionaire EPR, aim to improve safety on challenging stretches like the Serra de Petrópolis.