Santa Catarina faces critical road infrastructure and safety challenges

The state of Santa Catarina is facing significant logistical challenges due to inadequate road infrastructure that fails to keep pace with its economic development. Strategic corridors, including the BR-101 and BR-470 highways, suffer from frequent congestion, low speeds, and increased operational costs. This infrastructure deficit has also led to severe safety concerns; the state contains four of Brazil’s ten most dangerous road sections and records double the national average of deaths per 100 kilometers of paved federal highway.

In Northern Santa Catarina, the business sector has identified infrastructure improvements as a top priority for the 2026 elections. Through the Facisc ‘Voz Única 2026’ program, regional leaders are demanding specific interventions, such as the completion of the BR-280 duplication—which has seen stalled works since late 2022—and the creation of the ‘Via Mar,’ a high-capacity alternative to the BR-101. Additionally, there are calls to expand the capacity of the BR-101 through measures like adding third lanes in critical areas. Stakeholders emphasize that while projects exist, the speed of execution and effective oversight by agencies like ANTT and DNIT remain insufficient to meet the region's urgent needs.