Traffic congestion on the Anchieta-Imigrantes highway system reached significant levels over the New Year holiday period, with reports of heavy traffic and slow-moving vehicles frustrating countless travelers heading to the coast from São Paulo. Managed by Ecovias, this key route has become notorious for congestion, especially at this time of year when holiday travels peak.
On the morning of Saturday, December 28, 2024, traffic remained heavy and slow on the highways. According to Ecovias, the congestion was particularly evident on the following segments: on the Imigrantes highway, there was slow traffic from km 22 to km 32 and from km 37 to km 43. Meanwhile, on the Anchieta highway, vehicles faced heavy traffic between km 21 and km 23.
These snags were caused by the annual surge of holiday travelers making their way from the sprawling Metropolitan Region of São Paulo to the southern coastal beaches. The draw of sun and sand during this festive season always brings with it the challenge of dealing with long waits on the highway.
That Friday evening, December 27, the congestion worsened as the number of vehicles increased significantly, particularly on the Imigrantes highway, where slow-moving traffic stretched from km 20 to km 53, and on the Anchieta highway from km 26 to km 45. Smaller roads, such as the Padre Manuel da Nóbrega and Cônego Domenico Rangoni, reported normal flow, likely due to their less central nature.
Later on Friday, numerous motorists experienced challenging conditions as congestion developed on both sides of the highways. Reports indicated traffic slowing from km 22 to km 53 on the Imigrantes highway, and again from km 27 to km 45 on the Anchieta. Visibility conditions were poor as well, compounded by overcast weather and fog at higher elevations, leading to local traffic restrictions at certain access points. Ecovias implemented operational procedures to manage the flow, engaging drivers with clear signage advising them about blockages.
By the time the New Year holiday commenced, traffic numbers were staggering. Since midnight on December 26, 2024, more than 158,000 vehicles had descended the mountain toward Baixada Santista, and over 103,000 vehicles had returned to São Paulo, showcasing the high demand for travel during the festive season. At peak hours, as many as 5,700 vehicles moved toward the coast within just one hour.
Conditions on the ground were not without their challenges. Authorities indicated the Anchieta and Imigrantes highways were operating under the 5×5 model—a mechanism for traffic management intended to funnel vehicles efficiently down and up the mountainous routes.
The vehicle congestion can primarily be attributed to the tradition of holiday travel where families and individuals alike flock to the beaches for some festive sun and relaxation, but it also highlights the growing pressures on the already busy infrastructure leading out of São Paulo.
Despite efforts by Ecovias to manage the heavy flow effectively, many travelers still found themselves delayed and frustrated as they made their way to holiday destinations. "There was heavy traffic from km 22 to km 32 on the Imigrantes highway," reported Ecovias, encapsulating the conditions many drivers faced.
With expectations for continued congestion over the holiday weekend, travelers were advised to plan their journeys with care, allowing extra time for delays whether ascending to São Paulo or descending toward the beach. The enduring popularity of these coastal escapes shows no signs of waning, making road usage during this festive time remarkably high and predictably congested.
The takeaways from this situation reflect the challenges of holiday traffic—a perennial issue for cities like São Paulo known for their busy road systems. This year's New Year holiday appears to have compounded the already established congestion trends noted back for years, demonstrating the need for more systematic approaches to manage high volumes of travel during peak times.
Travelers preparing to take to the roads can only hope for improvements as they gear up to return from the celebrations on the coast after the holiday period ends. Hands gripping steering wheels, eyes cast anxiously toward the horizon, many will certainly be planning not just their getaways, but also their return routes as they aim to avoid repeating last year's travel snafus.
