Cafezal Hills: engineering overpasses challenges and reduces environmental impacts

Viaducts, bridges and tunnels built by traditional methods were used to surpass this challenge

People who visit the works of road duplication in the Cafezal Hills and see the low levels of environmental impact in the works may understand that—with investment and professional knowledge—it is possible to reduce the impacts on nature and develop efficient and long-lasting environmental compensations. Involving a length of 30.5 km of Régis Bittencourt Road between the municipalities of Juquitiba and Miracatu, in the inland of the state of São Paulo, the duplication will maintain the continuous traffic capacity of the road. Cafezal Hills is the sole section not fully duplicated in the connection São Paulo – Curitiba.

Curves with very low radius and steep slopes in the non-duplicated section limit the speed of heavy vehicles and cause intense traffic jams.

CBT – Brazilian Committee of Tunnels took an active part in the project—in the phases of path definition and analysis of environmental impacts—suggesting the tunnel alternative to ensure the lower environmental impact and even suggesting preliminary paths.

Works are being carried out since 2011 and will be concluded in February, 2017 with the duplication of the missing 18 km. Time reduction in the downhill path, in the direction São Paulo – Curitiba is not still satisfactory. But according to Eneo Palazzi, superintendent director of Autopista Régis Bittencourt—concessionaire that manages the road—the duplication will reduce the bottlenecks in the traffic. “The reduction of this bottleneck will allow the companies to guarantee a fixed time for their voyages and consequently a more appropriate value of freights and a positive impact on the economy”, says Eneo. Total investment of the concessionaire in the duplication works will be approximately R$ 1 billion.

The project was divided in nine sections and four are already finished, four are being carried out and one will be started in this half of the year. Approximately 1500 persons are working in the road since 2013. The perspective is to conclude the whole project till February, 2017.

Concern with ecosystems typifies the path

There are 36 viaducts and bridges with a total deck of 120,000 sq.mt. and four tunnels with a total length of 19 km, where are concentrated most of the river crossings.

“Design requirements establish a maximum of 2 million cu.mt. of earthmoving, in low-height cutting and backfill. There are many containment works around the viaducts, bridges and tunnels to limit earthmoving volume.

Tunnels allow to carry out the works with an impact that is quite lower than the solution of cutting and backfill and also allow more favorable paths to reduce environmental impact.