A critical piece of Bauru's urban infrastructure is set for a significant disruption. The Viaduto João Simonetti, a vital link on Rua 13 de Maio connecting the city's central area to the Jardim Bela Vista neighborhood, will be completely shut down for one week. The full closure, affecting both vehicle and pedestrian traffic in all directions, is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 7, and is currently planned to last until May 14.
This shutdown marks the most complex phase of the viaduct's ongoing recovery project. The work involves the intricate process of elevating the entire structure to remove its old support devices. Following this, crews will clean the area and install new, modern components designed to absorb the vertical and horizontal forces the bridge endures daily. The Prefeitura de Bauru has cautioned that the timeline is weather-dependent and could be extended if conditions are unfavorable.
Motorists will need to adjust their daily commutes. The Empresa Municipal de Desenvolvimento Urbano e Rural (Emdurb) has established specific detour routes. For traffic heading from the Centro to Jardim Bela Vista, drivers should use Rua Primeiro de Agosto and Rua Azarias Leite, proceeding via the Viaduto Juscelino Kubitschek. The route from the Centro towards Avenida Nuno de Assis will be diverted through Rua Ezequiel Ramos and Rua Araújo Leite.
For those traveling from Jardim Bela Vista back to the Centro, the recommended path is via Rua Miguel Buso and Avenida Nuno de Assis to Praça Alemanha, then accessing the Viaduto Juscelino Kubitschek. Authorities have stated that all alternative routes will be clearly marked with signage, and they urge drivers to exercise heightened caution during this period.
The necessity for this extensive intervention stems from years of structural problems plaguing the viaduct. The structure was first closed in 2019 on the recommendation of the Public Ministry. Although it was temporarily reopened, it was shut down again in 2021 after technical reports indicated an imminent risk of collapse, particularly concerning the access ramp to Avenida Nuno de Assis.
The current construction effort began in November 2025 following multiple failed bidding attempts that were canceled due to technical flaws. The total investment for the project is R$ 6.3 million, funded entirely by municipal resources. The full recovery is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026. Upon completion, the long-closed access ramp to Avenida Nuno de Assis, which has been blocked for seven years, is also slated to be reopened to traffic.
Based on reporting from g1.