Highway to Hell

São Paulo has a widely spread bad reputation due to its overwhelming traffic. Not only on the streets and avenues which cross the city, but also on the highways which get to and leave the city. Among the worst, if not the worst, when it comes to traffic issues, is Raposo Tavares (SP270).

Certainly, many of these problems started due to the disorganised growth of the cities next to this motorway and the large amount of leisure places, industries and residential areas on both sides of it, which attracts a great number of cars to this tortuous path. The difficulties in accessing and exiting Raposo are numberless. Few, and sometimes, confusing road signs, depressions on the ground on the accesses/exits - causing an abrupt, and sometimes, too late, deceleration of the vehicle - and sparse roundabouts are just some of these difficulties.

It is noticeable, though, that measures are being taken to correct these issues. An extra lane is being created, some roundabouts are being built, repairs on the holes throughout its course, pedestrians bridges are under construction and several other improvements which, hopefully, will make a difference.

The question that lies is the following: in a highway whose flow of automobiles is the second biggest among the ten others that get to São Paulo (71,5% in 2007 and still growing according to “Circuito” magazine). In which so far an overly defective administration has been presented and is undergoing a real estate and industrial boom, will the changes be sufficient?

The drivers who need to undergo this torture daily are well aware of the money issues due to the crisis and to the enormous amount of economic capital necessary to repair the 24 kilometres (from the 10^th to the 34^th) which are the government's responsibility. Why not sharing this responsibility with the industries which are on the highway's sides, then? It is mainly due to them the share of 25,3% of the amount of trucks which get to the city through this via. These companies have so many benefits, such as lower taxes and many others. Why not charging them a tax to repair works or giving them the responsibility to work together and look after the kilometres they are located?

The government could stablish a temporary fee to the users of these crowded lanes. After all, it's easy to complain and curse and not take any responsibility for the troubles that affect SP270. The inhabitants and drivers are also widely responsible for the gobsmacking traffic jams that happen everyday. Who is driving the cars? If everybody keeps on blaming the others for these issues, these will forever grow up to a point where it will be better walking than driving. Does it not ring a bell? Too bad it's hell's bell.