At least 7 million vehicles are expected to hit the road during the Christmas holidays, the majority moving from the metropolitan region of São Paulo. The movement increases in the morning and becomes more intense in the afternoon of this Thursday (22).
On state highways alone, 4.2 million cars are expected heading towards the interior and coast. The federal highways – Dutra, Fernão Dias and Régis Bittencourt -, which connect São Paulo to neighboring states, should receive around 3 million vehicles.
This will be the first Christmas without restrictions, after two years in which the celebration of the date suffered the effects of the covid-19 pandemic.
Because of the heavy rains that have been falling since the beginning of the week and the risk of landslides in the region, the concessionaire CCR RioSP blocked on Wednesday (21) both directions of the Rio-Santos Highway (BR-101) between the km 35, near Itamambuca beach, in Ubatuba (SP), and km 591, in the region of Paraty (RJ).
With rain forecast for practically the entire state, the Transport Agency of the State of São Paulo (Artesp) and the highway concessionaires launched a campaign warning of the risk of landslides and possible flooded areas.
Alerts will be displayed on 424 electronic message boards, responding to forecasts issued by 40 meteorological stations spread over 11,000 kilometers of highways.
The messages will warn about lightning storms, landslides with falling barriers and flooding of lanes, recommending protective measures.
According to Climatempo, the forecast is for showers every day in the capital, coast and interior of São Paulo until the beginning of January, especially in the afternoon and at night.
Rainy weather requires more caution from drivers due to the drop in visibility and the risk of aquaplaning – loss of vehicle control due to water on the road.
to the interior
The access roads to the coast will have heavy traffic as of this Thursday. In the Anchieta-Imigrantes System, which connects the metropolitan region of São Paulo to Baixada Santista, the forecast is for 460,000 vehicles – a record this year.
Operation Downhill, with seven lanes towards the coast (the south and north lanes of Anchieta and the three lanes of the south lane of Imigrantes), would be adopted from 8 am, depending on the volume of vehicles. The ascent will be along the three lanes of the north lane of Imigrantes.
On the Tamoios Highway, the main access to the North Coast, 126,000 vehicles should pass. The highway will operate with two lanes to descend and two lanes to ascend, already using the new lane in the mountain range for the ascent.
In the Ayrton Senna-Carvalho Pinto corridor, which distributes traffic between the North Coast and the tourist towns of Serra da Mantiqueira, the forecast is for 1.37 million vehicles, with more intense car volume starting at 7am this Thursday .
Among the highways managed by the Department of Highways (DER), only Padre Manoel da Nóbrega, which connects Baixada Santista to the South Coast, should receive 215,000 cars. The displacement of São Paulo residents to spend Christmas in the countryside also promises to be intense.
The Anhanguera-Bandeirantes System expects to receive 740,000 vehicles, while the Castelo-Raposo System should pass another 630,000. On these highways, traffic should only get heavier from 5 pm this Thursday.
Among the federal roads that leave the metropolitan region of São Paulo to other states, Dutra, the main link with Rio de Janeiro, will receive 1.4 million vehicles. At least 1 million will use Fernão Dias towards Minas Gerais, while another 740,000 will pass through Régis Bittencourt, which connects São Paulo to Curitiba and the south of the country.
Those who go south need to check the situation of the highways in Santa Catarina on the website of the concessionaire Arteris, where the rains keep several roads blocked by landslides.
Source: CNN Brasil
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