Heavy rains have forced the closure of significant stretches of roads MGC-459 and BR-459 in Minas Gerais, causing disruption for local commuters and freight transportation.
On December 27, 2024, the Polícia Militar Rodoviária reported the complete blockage of BR-459 between Wenceslau Braz and Delfim Moreira due to landslides caused by intense rainfall. The closure, occurring at km 198, resulted from serious damage to the road surface.
"The stretch was completely blocked in both directions at km 198 due to the collapse of the roadway," stated the Polícia Militar Rodoviária, underscoring the severity of the situation.
Not far from this incident, the Departamento de Estradas de Rodagem de Minas Gerais (DER-MG) began addressing another serious issue on MGC-459. A culvert failure at km 196 gave rise to severe pavement damage overnight following relentless rain. According to DER-MG officials, "The rupture of the culvert, which caused the breaking of the roadway, occurred this morning due to the high volume of water from the intense rains affecting the Southern region of Minas. "
Officials assured the public the situation is being closely monitored, and initial engineering studies are underway to define the best recovery methods for the impacted culvert and roadway. Given the mountainous terrain of the area, the blueprints for repairs will require thorough geological assessment before proceeding.
For travelers, alternative routes have been established. Traffic directed toward São Paulo must take the MG-350 highway heading toward Delfim Moreira, eventually reaching the BR-459 at km 212 via AMG-1915. It's important to note, though, there are restrictions for trucks with a gross weight exceeding 15 tons on MG-350.
For heavy vehicles, the recommended detour involves using MG-173 and MG-295, which connect to the BR-116. These routes, albeit longer, serve to alleviate congestion on the blocked roads.
Efforts to restore normal traffic flow are heavily reliant on the weather improving. With rainfall contributing to the instability of the roads, it poses challenges to DER-MG's recovery work. They will proceed only under favorable weather conditions, which they continue to monitor closely.
The heavy rains and resulting infrastructures, occasionally throughout the past weeks, have created similar types of interruptions across the region, raising concerns over the resilience of local road networks during the rainy season.
Local authorities remain dedicated to keeping the community informed about roadway conditions and safety measures as they tackle these enduring issues. The public is urged to exercise caution and plan extra travel time, considering the alternative routes laid out.
The efforts of both the Polícia Militar Rodoviária and DER-MG highlight the authorities' commitment to ensuring traveler safety and the swift recovery of important transportation routes affected by Mother Nature's fury.