Ministry confirms start of works on BR-319 by the end of June

The expectation of the Ministry of Transport is that the repaving works on the four lots in the "middle section" of BR-319 will begin by the end of June. The information comes from the minister of the portfolio, George Santoro.

For CNN, he explained that the second batch of the section will have the work order signed next week, while the contracts for the other two sections will be signed by June 15th. This step is necessary for the works to begin.

The first batch has already been approved and the service order was signed in Manaus (AM) at the end of May in the presence of President Lula.

Recently, the minister spoke at an event that the tender for the repaving of the four lots of BR-319, which connects Manaus (AM) to Porto Velho (RO), had been completed and that the contracts for all sections were expected to be approved by the first week of June.

The government resumed the bidding process for sections of BR-319 in May after a judicial reversal involving works on the highway. The Federal Court of Amazonas even suspended the bidding for the "middle section" of the road one day before the opening of bids, but the decision was reversed hours later by the TRF-1 (Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region).

BR-319 has been the subject of impasses for decades. Defenders of the work argue that the highway is the only land connection between Amazonas and the rest of the country and point out that the recovery is strategic for regional and logistical integration in the North region. Environmentalists are already warning of the risk of increased deforestation, land grabbing and pressure on sensitive areas in the Amazon.

Source: CNN