In Amazonas, stretches of BR-319 are blocked for emergency repairs

Ívina Garcia – From Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – The sections of the Curuçá and Autaz Mirim River, located in kilometers 23 and 25 of BR-319, which connects Manaus (AM) to Porto Velho (RO), are with traffic interdicted by the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT), since the early hours of Tuesday, 7, for emergency repairs.

The bridges collapsed between September and October 2022, four people died and 14 others were injured. According to information from the group of Friends and Defenders of BR-319, the embanked road of the Autaz Mirim River, built in an emergency way to ensure the passage after the fall of the bridges, is being affected by rising rivers and therefore needs emergency repairs.

In a statement, the DNIT reported that the interdiction occurred for the completion of maintenance services on the dry passage of Autaz Mirim, but that the activities have already been completed. Also according to the Autarchy, the forecast is that traffic on the crossings will be restored on Tuesday until 14h, and may occur earlier.

A video sent to the report shows that the culvert used to drain the water is no longer supplying the needs. In the early morning, workers were on site to start repairs, and needed to remove part of the bridge embankment, cutting the road connection.

At km 25, on the Curuçá River, a ferryboat was made available for a 24-hour crossing. However, videos sent to CENARIUM MAGAZINE show that the crossing ends up submerged with the rising waters, hindering vehicle traffic.

See video:

Contract

Provided by the company Amazônia Navegações, both the dry crossing and the ferryboat are intended to ensure the continuity of traffic while the bridges are being rebuilt. Both solutions were considered temporary, since only the Rio Curuçá Bridge has a construction contract.

The contract for the construction of the Rio Curuçá Bridge has already been published, however, for the works in Autaz Mirim, DNIT expects to conclude the emergency contracting and sign the contract with the company in early 2023. The Autarchy points out that, according to article 75 of Law No. 14.133/2021, the deadline for emergency contracted works is up to one year.

For the amount of R$ 3,569,925.36, the company Amazônia Navegações is responsible both for the construction work of the bridge on the Curuçá River and for the ferryboat placed on site to cross trucks and vehicles. The contract with the company lasts until March 2024.

Read also: With contract R$ 3 million, ferry used for emergency crossing on BR-319 is submerged