The project foresees the modernization of the RS-389 and the possibility of launching traffic for heavy trucks
The state government of Rio Grande do Sul has announced the start of technical studies for the RS-389 clone, known as Estrada do Mar, to meet the demand that drivers and residents of the North Coast have been waiting for more than 20 years.
Photography: Disclosure/Dair/Illustration/Porto Alegre 24 Hours
The Minister of State for Logistics and Transport, Jover Costilla, confirmed that the Autonomous Administration of Highways (DAIR) will be responsible for hiring a company to prepare the preliminary studies, expected to begin in 2026. The preliminary project will determine the timeline, costs and phases of duplication, in addition to analyzing the structural feasibility of liberating heavy truck traffic, which is currently prohibited on the road.
According to the minister, dualization is essential for the economic and tourism development of the North Coast.
“The idea is to widen the highway. Today it has no shoulder. There is no cheap work, but we need to think about what this duplication will mean for the development of the North Coast,” explained Jover Costilla.
According to Dyer’s CEO, Luciano Faustino, the area earmarked for expansion is already owned by the state, which does not require expropriation and should reduce costs and speed up implementation.
Estrada do Mar, which opened in 1990, is located about 90 kilometers between Osorio and Torres. The plan foresees the works being divided into parcels, with priority given to the stretch between Osorio and Capao da Canoa, where flow is more intense and accident rates are higher.
State Rep. Luciano Silveira (MDB) has worked to make the project viable, holding meetings with the state executive to reinforce the importance of duplication given the region’s population and economic growth.
With one lane and no shoulder, the highway was initially designed for passenger vehicles, as a replacement for BR-101, but today it also accommodates buses and light trucks – a scenario that highlights the urgent need for modernization to ensure safety and smooth traffic.
Informative: GZH
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