COLLAPSE ANALYSIS OF HIGHWAY BRIDGES: A CASE STUDY OF THE JUSCELINO KUBITSCHEK BRIDGE (MA–TO, BRAZIL)

Abstract

The collapse of highway bridges represents one of the most critical events in infrastructure engineering, highlighting failures in inspection, maintenance, and risk management throughout the service life of structures. This study analyzes the collapse of the Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge, located on the border between the states of Maranhão and Tocantins, Brazil, which occurred in December 2024. The adopted methodology is qualitative and interpretative, based on the integrated analysis of visual records, technical documents, and publicly available information, combined with the application of a risk matrix to assess structural criticality. The results indicate that the bridge exhibited advanced deterioration, including cracking, water infiltration, and reinforcement corrosion, associated with the lack of proper maintenance and the significant increase in traffic loads over time. The occurrence of exceptional loads acted as a triggering factor for the collapse in an already compromised structural scenario. The risk analysis showed that the main hazards were classified at high criticality levels, indicating the need for immediate interventions that were not implemented. The study highlights the importance of risk-based management, strict application of inspection standards, and the adoption of structural health monitoring technologies to prevent catastrophic failures in bridges.