DNIT releases resumption of searches on the Tocantins River and updates alternative routes

The National Department of Transport Infrastructure (Dnit) authorized the resumption of searches for victims of the accident with the Juscelino Kubitschek bridge, on the border of Tocantins and Maranhão, this Saturday morning (28). The referral came after confirmation that the bridge structure is stable.

In addition to validation, the agency also updated the alternative routes that drivers should use while the bridge is out of operation. See the new routes below.

According to information from Dnit, confirmation of the structure allowed the Navy and Fire Department teams to return to searching for the missing.

The most recent Navy bulletin, sent to the press this Saturday morning, reports that nine people died and eight others are missing.

On Friday (27), the searches had been interrupted because the bridge had structural problems. Dnit reported that it will continue to monitor the structure constantly.

In addition, the Dnit is organizing passenger transport between states, with ferries expected to start operating next week, allowing people to cross while the bridge is being rebuilt.

Check alternative routes

Route 1 (light vehicles):

• Take TO-126 from Aguiarnópolis to Tocantinópolis;
• Cross the ferry to Porto Franco/MA;
• Follow BR-226/MA (30 km).

Route 2 (heavy vehicles):

• Take TO-134 in Darcinópolis to BR-230 in Axixá do Tocantins (149 km);
• Take TO-201 in Axixá do Tocantins to TO-126 in Sítio Novo do Tocantins (15.1 km);
• Take TO-126 in Sítio Novo do Tocantins until Imperatriz and follow BR-010/MA (26.9 km).

Route 3 (heavy vehicles):

• Take BR-230 from Aguiarnópolis to Luzinópolis (79 km);
• Follow BR-230 in Luzinópolis until TO-134 in Axixá do Tocantins (78 km);
• Take TO-201 in Axixá do Tocantins until Sítio Novo do Tocantins (15.1 km);
• Take TO-126 in Sítio Novo do Tocantins until Imperatriz/MA (26.9 km) and follow BR-010/MA.

To access BR-226/TO:

Route 1 (light vehicles):

• Take BR-010/226/MA from Estreito to Porto Franco (30 km);
• ⁠Cross the ferry to Tocantinópolis/TO and follow the TO-126.

Route 2 (heavy vehicles):

• Access the BR-226/MA in Estreito to Porto Franco (30 km);
• Take the BR-010/MA in Porto Franco until Imperatriz (100 km) and follow the TO-126/134.

What happened

The Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira bridge, which connects the city of Aguiarnópolis, in Tocantins, and the city of Estreito, in Maranhão, collapsed last Sunday afternoon (22), on the BR-226 (TO) highway, over the Tocantins River.

Three trucks carrying 22,000 liters of pesticides and 76 tons of sulfuric acid, a corrosive chemical, also fell into the river.

This content was originally published in DNIT releases resumption of searches on the Tocantins River and updates alternative routes on the CNN Brasil website.

Source: CNN Brasil