Drivers using Cristiano Machado Avenue face a new round of nighttime closures until Friday (22) — this time for resurfacing work on the R$192 million tunnel that Belo Horizonte City Hall is building in the stretch. The road is completely closed in the direction of downtown, between MG-10 and Gabirobas street (Vila Clóris), from 8:30 PM to 4 AM, the city hall reported. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"A avenida Cristiano Machado voltará a ser interditada totalmente no sentido Bairro/Centro, entre a MG-10 e a rua Gabirobas, no bairro Vila Clóris, em Belo Horizonte, a partir da noite desta segunda-feira (18). O bloqueio irá ocorrer diariamente, das 20h30 às 4h, até sexta-feira (22), para obras de recapeamento."
The closure repeats the same pattern from last week, when the stretch had already been closed between Tuesday (12) and Thursday (14) for construction interventions. According to the city hall, the work was scheduled for nighttime to reduce impacts on traffic during peak hours. During the closure, BHTrans, Municipal Guard and Military Police agents work on traffic operations. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Segundo a Prefeitura de Belo Horizonte, os trabalhos foram programados para o período noturno com o objetivo de reduzir impactos no trânsito nos horários de pico."
The city hall defined two detour routes: via Pedro I Avenue and Bernardo Ferreira da Cruz Street, returning to Cristiano Machado via Vilarinho Avenue; or via the same Pedro I, but continuing on Padre Pedro Pinto Street and Doutor Álvaro Camargos Street to Vilarinho. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Os condutores que seguem no sentido Centro poderão utilizar duas rotas alternativas: Opção 1: Avenida Cristiano Machado, Avenida Pedro I, Rua Bernardo Ferreira da Cruz, Avenida Vilarinho e Avenida Cristiano Machado. Opção 2: Avenida Cristiano Machado, Avenida Pedro I, Rua Padre Pedro Pinto, Rua Doutor Álvaro Camargos, Avenida Vilarinho e Avenida Cristiano Machado."
The tunnel construction is 780 meters long and receives R$161.6 million investment from the Urban Mobility Fund, according to local press. The city hall opened bidding in December 2024 with a maximum value of R$191.7 million and a deadline of 1,080 calendar days. The project includes a boulevard in front of Cristo Rei Cathedral, an acceleration lane at the intersection with Vilarinho Avenue, and improvements to drainage, paving and landscaping. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"O valor máximo para as propostas das empresas interessadas é de R$ 191.780.750,89."
"As intervenções fazem parte das obras para construção de uma nova trincheira na avenida Cristiano Machado, projeto que recebe investimento de R$ 161,6 milhões do Fundo de Mobilidade Urbana (FMU). A estrutura terá 780 metros de extensão."
Closure occurs from 8:30 PM to 4 AM between Monday (18) and Friday (22) May 2026
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (1)
Construction became R$3 million more expensive after addendum published in Official Gazette
Conflicting versions (1)
Investment value for tunnel construction
-
What is the current status of the bidding process opened in December 2024?
Why it's still unknown: City Hall established deadline until January 28, 2025 for proposal submissions, but there is no information about bidding results or winning company.
-
How much additional time do the detours represent for the average driver?
Why it's still unknown: City Hall listed alternative routes but did not provide estimates of additional travel time.
-
What is the traffic capacity of alternative routes compared to typical Cristiano Machado volume?
Why it's still unknown: There is no data on usual vehicle flow on Cristiano Machado nor on capacity of detour routes.