The Story Behind The Abandoned Viaduct Petrobras
Right in the middle of a forest in the southern state of Sao Paolo in Brazil is a large yet abandoned road called Viaduct Petrobras. It’s a mysterious concrete structure that sticks like a sore thumb from the jungle then disappears abruptly. The road was part of the trans coastal highway that was built by the Brazilan government in the 1950s. It eventually became Brazil’s longest highway as it stretches for almost 3,000 miles from north to south. But the segment that was supposed to connect Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paolo was left unbuilt because it had to be constructed deep in the jungle.
Then in the 1970s, the Brazilian government revived the project fueled by ambitions of transforming Brazil into a nuclear powerhouse. The government first thought of building a road over the mountains but executing the plan proved to be quite challenging. Then they flirted the idea of building a road that goes through the jungle. But the people in power realized that will just be as difficult, if not more, than their first plan. Finally, the government decided to build a road over the jungle. The road will trace an existing path built by gas company Petrobras so their pipelines can be easily reached for maintenance. This is also how the viaduct got its name.
Construction pushed through despite hostile conditions in the area that had workers battling heat, insects, and the challenge posed by large trees. It was an ambitious project that, when finished, will bypass more than 30 miles of coastal road from Brazil’s former capital to Sao Paolo. The 300 meters long viaduct sits 131 feet above the jungle.
An economic crisis hit Brazil right in the middle of the viaduct’s construction. So the project was stopped. And now it is known as the abandoned road in the middle of the jungle.
Coordinates: -23.7388, -45.5494
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Access
- The viaduct is not a separately managed walk-up attraction, and its exact bridge/approach remains unresolved. The Rio Pardo–Limeira route is inside Serra do Mar State Park; the official 2022 reopening rules required advance registration and identification for the managed cycling route. A January 2026 trail-user report says vehicle/motorcycle access remains restricted and park authorization is required. The State’s current guide lists a related difficult mountain-bike route, but does not confirm public access to this specific viaduct. Contact the park before planning; do not enter closed roads, private land or the bridge without explicit authorization.
- Admission
- No current bridge-specific visitor fee or permission policy could be verified. The 2022 municipal notice said the managed Rio Pardo/Limeira cycling route was free only during its initial 180-day trial; that expired and does not establish today's fee. Confirm current booking and charges with the park before travel.
- Time needed
- No reliable source gives a current, safe visit duration for this exact viaduct. The State park guide lists 6–6.5 hours for a difficult 29–30 km Estrada da Limeira mountain-bike route that includes some Rio Pardo roads; that is a route duration, not time at the bridge and not confirmation that the bridge approach is open.
- Best season
- No reliable, viaduct-specific best season is published. Because access depends on a managed Serra do Mar route and current permission, check with the park and local weather/closure notices before choosing dates; no season is recommended here.
- Opening hours
- No current opening hours are published for the viaduct itself. The State guide lists 08:00–16:00 Tuesday–Sunday for a related Estrada da Limeira mountain-bike route; those hours are not proof that the bridge or its approach is open. Confirm the exact route and current schedule with the park.
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-07
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