Brazil highway authorities prepare for major holiday traffic surge

Authorities in Brazil are preparing for significant increases in road traffic during the upcoming Nossa Senhora Aparecida holiday weekend. In São Paulo, the Department of Highways (DER-SP) estimates that approximately 16.7 million vehicles will travel on state highways between October 9 and October 12.

To manage this volume, the DER-SP has launched Operation Nossa Senhora e Romaria 2026, deploying over 1,400 employees and 315 operational vehicles. Special attention is being given to routes leading to Aparecida, where more than 630,000 vehicles are expected, as well as access roads to the São Paulo coast. Support bases will be established at the Aparecida Basilica to assist pilgrims with water and safety guidance.

In Paraná, the concessionaire Motiva Paraná projects a 28% increase in traffic, expecting 313,000 vehicles on its managed highways. Additionally, infrastructure improvements, such as the new viaduct on the PR-418 in Almirante Tamandaré, are expected to assist with regional mobility. Meanwhile, in Bragança Paulista, the Vias Novas Program is conducting road maintenance, including asphalt resurfacing and soil regularization, across five key locations to improve safety and traffic flow in the region.