The Government of the Federal District (GDF) released, this Thursday morning (2), another lane on rigid concrete pavement on Estrada Parque Indústrias Gráficas (Epig). The measure benefits drivers who travel from Plano Piloto to Taguatinga.
With the works, four lanes of the road are now open | Photos: Paulo H. Carvalho/Agência Brasília
“These releases have a direct impact on improving flow for drivers”
Charlemagne, SODF engineer
With the release, the reverse lane was deactivated, also benefiting drivers traveling from Estrada Parque Taguatinga (EPTG) towards Eixo Monumental. “The reverse was necessary to guarantee the safety of workers and vehicles as well; it was a temporary solution, but now, with another lane freed up, it no longer makes sense”, details engineer Carlos Magno, from the Secretariat of Works and Infrastructure (SODF), responsible for executing the contract.
So far, explains the manager, the teams have already released vehicle traffic in four of the road’s six lanes. There are three lanes in the Taguatinga-Eixo Monumental direction and two in the opposite direction.
“These releases have a direct impact on improving flow for drivers”, he emphasizes. “This is a very narrow stretch, and the works ended up causing traffic to become more blocked. It was necessary to move the bus lines into Octogonal, and some small vehicles also had to access alternative routes.”
The ministry’s expectation is to release more sections as the works progress. “Our forecast is that in ten, 12 days, we will open another lane to make traffic more fluid”, he anticipates.
Extended mobility
Soon, the entire Epig will be covered with rigid concrete pavement, replacing asphalt. The objective is to guarantee a safer, more efficient and comfortable journey for almost 25 thousand daily drivers. To this end, the GDF invests R$156 million in the execution of services, generating 140 jobs.
Trader José Augusto Maciel approved the work: “It is very good, 100%. You have to be patient, because nothing can be solved overnight”
Durable, safe and quick to maintain, the rigid pavement will be applied along the 12 km length of the track, covering both directions of travel. With the work, the road will become the second highway completely covered in concrete. The first was Estrutural, whose work received a contribution of R$80 million from the GDF.
Trader José Augusto Maciel, 64, approved the new version of Epig and praised the recent changes promoted by the GDF: “The flow there has already improved a lot. It’s very good, 100%. Today, they released another track and it’s already flowing much better. You have to be patient, because nothing can be solved overnight.”
The changes also pleased public transport users. “Today, I arrived at work much earlier than I used to,” reported day laborer Rosileide Pereira, 38. “The traffic is much better. In the past, traffic jams started around Taguatinga and now it’s much better.”
West Axis Corridor
The renovation of Epig is part of the works on the Eixo Oeste Corridor, which will be 38.7 km long, connecting the main roads from Sol Nascente/Pôr do Sol to Plano Piloto. The objective is to reduce travel time between the two regions to 30 minutes.
To this end, the GDF is building an exclusive lane for buses in the BRT system, in addition to nine viaducts, terminals, pedestrian crossings and cycle paths.
For logistics and safety reasons, the services are carried out in six sections. The first, between the intersection of EPTG and Epig, covers the implementation of the BRT Corridor, the construction of two new viaducts, installation of cycle paths, drainage works, paving, signage, landscaping, sidewalks and urban furniture.
