The All Souls’ Day holiday is approaching, and Operation All Souls’ Day is kicking into gear once again. It is a special monitoring, organization, and operational support initiative coordinated by the highway concessionaires and traffic agencies responsible for the state’s busiest highways.
With a three-day long weekend, estimates point to a significant increase in traffic on São Paulo’s highways between this Friday and Saturday.
On Monday, as people return to the capital, the Anchieta-Imigrantes System is expected to see high demand. Meanwhile, the Anhanguera-Bandeirantes System forecasts peak traffic between 3:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on the same day.
What is Operation Finados?
The operation consists of a task force designed to manage the increase in travel volume during the long holiday weekend. Since it covers different highway networks, it is not a centralized effort, nor does it follow identical rules for all sections.
Each toll road operator plans its service, monitoring, and traffic interventions according to its own demand.
The Anhanguera-Bandeirantes System, for example, operates under a special schedule from October 30 through November 2. Meanwhile, the Anchieta-Imigrantes System plans to extend its service through November 3.
The measures also include operational reinforcements by CCR AutoBAn, which will operate with 100% of its staff and 52 patrol vehicles on duty. In addition, lane configurations on the Anchieta-Imigrantes System may change throughout the holiday to expand the highway’s capacity in the direction of heaviest traffic.
There are also restrictions on the Castello Branco-Raposo Tavares System starting at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, due to roadwork and pavement maintenance. Truck traffic may also be subject to restricted hours and sections.
In fact, according to Ecovias, the special “Descida” and “Subida” operations will be crucial: forecasts indicate that 230,000 to 280,000 vehicles will travel toward the Baixada Santista and the South Coast.
What’s changing on each highway system
Anchieta-Imigrantes System:
During Operation Descida (7×3), seven lanes serve traffic heading toward the coast, and three remain dedicated to traffic heading toward the capital. Traffic heading to the beach uses both lanes of Via Anchieta and the southbound lane of the Imigrantes Highway, while traffic heading back to the capital uses the northbound lane of the Imigrantes Highway.
As for Operation Subida (2×8), eight lanes are heading toward São Paulo and two serve the coast. The return route uses both lanes of the Imigrantes and the northbound lane of the Anchieta; the southbound route operates exclusively on the southbound lane of Via Anchieta.
Anhanguera-Bandeirantes System:
On Monday, from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., truck drivers traveling on the Bandeirantes Highway toward the capital should take a detour onto the Anhanguera Highway between km 48 and km 23. The lane change occurs at the km 48 exit of the Bandeirantes Highway, in the Jundiaí section.
Castello Branco Highway:
For those leaving the capital, the recommendation is to start the trip on Friday before 6 p.m. or after 7 p.m. Those who prefer to hit the road on Saturday will find better conditions before 8 a.m.
However, it is worth noting that the dates and times reflect estimates from the toll road operators and are subject to change depending on traffic patterns and congestion conditions on the road.
