The SE-339 state highway between Capela and Nossa Senhora das Dores, in Sergipe, Brazil, had its main restoration section handed over by the state government in June 2026. However, the duplicated access road into Nossa Senhora das Dores was still receiving road markings and traffic signs in the October 20 update from Sergipe’s State Road Infrastructure Department (DER/SE). The overall project covers 16.97 kilometers: 15.18 kilometers in the first stage and 1.79 kilometers of duplication in the second. The October statement gave no date for the formal handover of the second stage.
What was restored and what was duplicated
The first stage involved resurfacing and structural improvements along the route from Capela to the junction with SE-230 at Nossa Senhora das Dores. According to the official handover account, the 15.18-kilometer section was widened to a 10-meter roadway. This does not mean the entire nearly 17-kilometer link was converted into a dual carriageway.
The second stage is shorter and different in scope: duplication of 1.79 kilometers on the approach to Nossa Senhora das Dores. On October 20, DER said work was under way on horizontal markings, such as painted lines on the pavement, and vertical signs on this section.
The 1.79 kilometers are included in the project’s total of 16.97 kilometers. Adding them again to the approximately 17 kilometers reported by DER would incorrectly inflate the project length.
SE-339 timeline
- November 2024: the restoration work order was announced for 16.97 kilometers between Capela and the approach to Nossa Senhora das Dores. The figure reported at the time was R$ 43,977,604.49 for the works described on that occasion.
- May 2026: DER reported traffic-signage work on the restored section, including final adjustments to vertical signs and roadside cleaning.
- June 2026: the government announced the handover of the main restoration of the Dr. Lauro Porto highway, with 15.18 kilometers completed in the first stage. That institutional handover announcement should not be mistaken for the later completion of the duplicated approach.
- October 20, 2026: DER reported that the second stage, involving duplication of 1.79 kilometers, was receiving horizontal road markings and vertical traffic signs. It described this as the final stage before handover.
How much was invested
DER put the investment in the duplicated approach at R$ 8,884,930.82. In its October 20 statement, it reported more than R$ 54 million spent on the combined improvements to the link between the two towns. These are amounts reported by the department, not independently audited payment figures.
The reported figures changed as work progressed: the 2024 work order listed approximately R$ 43.98 million for restoration, while the June 2026 handover announcement referred to approximately R$ 45.87 million for the main stage. Figures from different dates should not automatically be treated as identical contract values or all added together.
What remains and what drivers need to know
In the latest specific DER update reviewed, work remained on the traffic markings and signs for the 1.79-kilometer duplicated approach, followed by confirmation of its formal handover. The statement provided no handover date and no details of any lane closure, traffic-direction change, or temporary detour.
For people traveling between Capela and Nossa Senhora das Dores, the distinction matters: the main section had been the subject of an earlier handover, while the second stage still involved finishing work. Without a specific operational notice, it is not possible to say that the duplicated section is fully open or prescribe a mandatory new route.
Status checked on October 22, 2026, using the official notice updated on October 20. The opening and formal handover dates for the duplicated approach require confirmation in a subsequent DER/SE update.
