BR-101 bridge over the Paraíba River that partly collapsed in March to be demolished in Santa Rita
Sunday's controlled demolition requires a full closure of the highway in Greater João Pessoa from 1:30 p.m.; federal highway police and the transport infrastructure agency point to detours via BR-230 and state roads.
Translated from the Portuguese original by the Panorama newsroom. Read in Portuguese
Summary written by the Panorama newsroom from the sources listed below. Facts are attributed to the original publications.
A BR-101 bridge over the Paraíba River, at kilometer 77 of the highway, in Santa Rita, in Greater João Pessoa, will be demolished with explosives this Sunday (8), requiring a full closure of that stretch, g1 reported. The structure partially collapsed in March 2026, when the failure of one of its supports caused two sections of the bridge to give way.
No one was hurt at the time because one of the lanes had already been closed since September 2025, when the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT) began inspections and emergency work at the site.
According to the Federal Highway Police (PRF), the closure runs from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., although g1 also reports that the blockade in the area is scheduled to last until 5:30 p.m. Reopening the road depends on an inspection by seismology and topography specialists, who will assess the condition of the parallel bridge, which is expected to remain in operation after the demolition.
During the operation, a 300-meter safety perimeter will be kept around the structure, on land and on the water, inside which no one will be allowed to remain. The PRF will be supported by the Military Police, the Fire Department and Civil Defense to keep people away, including fishermen and other river users.
Drivers heading from João Pessoa to Natal must detour via BR-230 toward Campina Grande and continue on PB-041, passing through Sapé and Capim, until rejoining BR-101 in Mamanguape; in the opposite direction, the route is reversed. The PRF also cited as alternatives state highways that cross Sobrado and a route through the municipality of Lucena.