Rodoanel Norte Completes Key Project Milestones

Construction on the Northern Section of the Mario Covas Ring Road (SP-021) is progressing rapidly and recently reached two major milestones: the lifting of beams over the Presidente Dutra Highway and the completion of the excavation of the inner lane vault of Tunnel 101.

Between August 30 and 31, the Presidente Dutra Highway (BR-116) was closed to allow the installation of four beams that form the connecting ramp between the Northern Ring Road and Dutra, heading toward Rio de Janeiro. The operation, carried out by the Via SP Serra concessionaire in Arujá (SP), took place overnight and required full closures in two periods starting at midnight, with traffic reopening around 5 a.m. on Sunday (31).

The beams, lifted in pairs by two cranes with capacities of 450 and 600 tons, are 59 meters long and weigh a total of 341 tons. Due to the complexity of the operation, a special engineering and road safety plan was adopted.
“The closure was necessary to ensure everyone’s safety and was planned with several agencies involved in the operation, such as the concessionaire managing the Dutra section and the Federal Highway Police (PRF),” explained Luiz Alberto Sette, Director of Engineering and Implementation at Via Appia.

Tunnel 101 Breakthrough

Another major milestone was the completion of the excavation of the inner lane vault of Tunnel 101, using the NATM (New Austrian Tunneling Method). This technique allowed the project to adapt to varying geological conditions, including soil and mixed sections. In rocky areas, controlled blasting was carried out with strict technical standards to ensure structural stability. The careful application of NATM reaffirmed the project’s commitment to best engineering practices.

OAE 660

On Wednesday (03), the final prestressed reinforced concrete beam was installed on OAE 660, a bridge spanning 305 meters and reaching a height of 20 meters. The operation began in October 2024, and a total of 111 beams were installed, weighing 7,440 tons and consuming 2,865 m³ of concrete.

About Rodoanel Norte

Work on the Northern Section resumed in April this year by Via SP Serra, a concessionaire of the Via Appia Concessions Group, about six months ahead of the contractual schedule. With an estimated investment of R$ 2.5 billion, the initiative is expected to generate over 10,000 jobs by completion.

The section spans 44 kilometers and passes through the municipalities of São Paulo, Arujá, and Guarulhos. Delivery is divided into two phases: the first, between the Presidente Dutra and Fernão Dias highways, is scheduled for the second half of 2025; the second, between Fernão Dias and Raimundo Pereira de Magalhães Avenue, is expected to be completed by September 2026.