Critérios técnicos para viabilidade e projeto funcional de uma área de escape na BR-050/MG: trecho Araguari - Uberlândia

Abstract

Due to the widespread use of the highway mode for freight transportation in Brazil, the country's road network plays a fundamental economic role in the flow of people and goods between large and small urban centers. Because of this extensive use and the mountainous topography of certain regions, accidents involving out-of-control cargo vehicles are recurrent. This is due to mechanical failures, electrical malfunctions, and overheating of the braking system caused by its constant demand on these long, steep stretches. Given this context, in terms of road safety, a corrective measure for this issue is the implementation of escape areas adjacent to the highway margins along these long sections with steep slopes. The BR-050 highway is the main connection between the municipalities of Uberlândia and Araguari, two of the most economically and socially significant cities in the Triângulo Mineiro region, in the state of Minas Gerais. This section of the highway is widely used for freight transportation in the region, but it features a steep and extensive topography. However, in Brazil, there are no specific technical criteria established for the construction of escape ramps, requiring the use of international manuals to guide the development of these safety structures. Thus, this study aims to identify the set of technical criteria involved in decision-making for selecting the location of an escape area for out-of-control vehicles on the BR-050/MG, between Araguari and Uberlândia, and to propose a functional design as a viable alternative. It is expected that this study will serve as a reference for other Brazilian highways that need to implement this safety feature, thereby contributing to the reduction of fatal road accidents in the country.