Salvador boosts VLT with road upgrade and Calçada station opening

The state of Bahia opened the first phase of the duplication of the BA‑528 highway, known as Estrada do Derba, in Salvador. The 5.84‑kilometre project, costing R$ 251.1 million, added 3.8 km of duplicated main lane, two kilometres of access ramps, 3.89 km of bike lane, new sidewalks, lighting and the planting of 429 native trees. Governor Jerônimo Rodrigues said the work "was advanced so the city and people using this road could already benefit from the VLT project".

A day earlier, the inaugural ceremony for the Calçada station – the first station of the new Veículo Leve sobre Trilhos (VLT) – was held in the historic Calçada neighbourhood. Senator Jaques Wagner praised the station, noting it looked "like a European railway station". Former minister Rui Costa recalled the transformation of the old suburban train into the VLT. The station’s refurbishment, financed with about R$ 13 million, restored historic features, added commercial and support spaces, a railway memorial and cultural artworks. The VLT system will eventually run about 44 km with 50 stations, linking with the metro at Águas Claras and other hubs.