With BR-304 closed, diversion opens inside farms in Lajes
An improvised diversion opened within farms in Lajes, in the Central region of Rio Grande do Norte, has been the alternative used by drivers using the BR-304 since this Monday (23).
To access the detour, which is 2.7 km long, drivers need to pay R$20, in the case of passenger cars, and R$30 in the case of pickup trucks. Trucks cannot pass through the section. The alternative route works on the stop and go system.
According to businessman Armando Filho, the idea for the diversion came up shortly after the collapse of the bridge. He says that the livestock farm has belonged to the family for over 50 years and also lost some animals when the Ponta da Serra River flooded, which caused the road to collapse.
However, the alternative road was only built after dialogues with businesspeople in the region. According to him, the measure also depended on agreement with the owner of a neighboring farm.
Armando stated that around 200 vehicles used the detour on the first day of operation. Hours are limited, from 5am to 5pm.
According to the businessman, the fee charged aims to cover the costs of constructing the bypass. Official vehicles and ambulances do not pay for the service.
“There are people who think it’s cheap, because it saves time and fuel. We hired a tractor, a backhoe, bucket trucks, we spent around R$30,000, and there’s a machine providing service day and night,” he explained.
According to the person responsible for the farm, some of the users became emotional when they passed by the place.
“Some people cry. They say it was God who touched our hearts,” he said.
Official diversion has not yet been completed
Since the bridge collapse, the National Department of Traffic Infrastructure (Dnit) announced the construction of a bypass on the highway. Initially, the deadline for construction was 15 days.
Dnit changes schedule for diversion work on BR-304
The deadline for rebuilding the bridge was not announced.
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