Dourados residents block BR‑463 demanding road upgrades and safety measures

On the morning of 29 April, residents of Dourados in Mato Grosso do Sul staged a peaceful protest on the federal highway BR‑463, temporarily blocking traffic near the Campo Dourado entrance to press authorities for safety improvements.

The protestors demanded the immediate completion of the stalled duplication project between Sitioca Campina Verde and the Bandeira roundabout, construction of a viaduct with a pedestrian‑and‑cyclist overpass, installation of traffic lights, upgraded signage and lighting, and other measures to reduce accidents on the stretch locally known as the “road of death”. The duplication, begun in August 2021 and originally scheduled for February 2023, has been halted awaiting a new tender. The road is administered by the Departamento Nacional de Infraestrutura de Transportes (DNIT) and serves as a main route to the regional hospital and for heavy cargo traffic. The Federal Highway Police (PRF) noted that the demonstration lasted from about 6 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. with traffic flowing normally.