Brazil’s audit court (TCU) authorized the government to move forward with an auction for the BR-116/PR/SP highway concession, known as Régis Bittencourt, with investments estimated at BRL13 billion (US$2.45 billion).

The Régis Bittencourt highway links São Paulo state with Curitiba, the capital of Paraná. Under the new concession, scheduled to be signed in 2026, a 15-year program of key upgrades will be carried out, including over 90 km of lighting in high-risk areas (particularly mountain sections), around 60 km of additional lanes, and enhancements to access points, pedestrian bridges, bike paths, and wildlife crossings. The 383 km Régis Bittencourt highway runs through 16 municipalities and serves as a vital route for cargo movement and for industrial and agricultural supply chains. Brazil is currently experiencing a surge in private investment in road infrastructure, spurred by the auctioning of several concessions. From 2023 to 2026, the Ministry of Transport plans to hold 45 highway concession auctions, expected to attract over BRL35 billion (US$6.5 billion) in investment through new contracts and renegotiations.