Wedoany.com Report on Mar 6th, Brazil's National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) has officially terminated the contract covering 457.3 kilometers of highways in Rio Grande do Sul, making way for the structuring of a new concession. The contract, held by Ecosul, covered sections of the BR-116 and BR-392 highways and was scheduled to end on March 3, 2026, with no extension granted. ANTT stated that, according to current regulations, the administration, maintenance, and operation of these sections will be transferred to federal public management until a new bidding process is conducted. The highway management will be carried out by the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT).

With the contract termination, five toll plazas have been closed, including one of Brazil's most expensive tolls, which charged R$ 19.60 for passenger cars. DNIT has signed five contracts to invest approximately R$ 211.2 million over two years in road maintenance, including pavement restoration, cleaning, and signage repairs. Around 270 employees from the former concessionaire face unemployment, with local business associations assisting about 60 workers in finding new positions. Emergency medical services will be taken over by Samu and the fire department, with an expected increase of about 5,000 emergency calls per year.

According to ANTT, technical studies supporting the new concession model for this stretch are being finalized, including demand analysis, investment estimates, and economic-financial structuring. The new contract is expected to introduce 14 free-flow tolling points, replacing the traditional five toll plazas. The proposed toll rates range from R$ 2.12 to R$ 5.43, with free passage for the first four months and a 50% discount from the fourth to the twelfth month. Public consultations are scheduled for March in Brasília, Pelotas, and Porto Alegre. The bidding is planned for August 2026, with an estimated investment exceeding R$ 60 billion. This project is part of a broader wave of highway concessions in Brazil. In 2026, the federal government plans to auction 14 contracts in this sector, covering 7,295 kilometers of highways, with an expected investment of R$ 1.58 trillion.