federal highway in Brazil that links Manaus, Amazonas to Porto Velho, Rondônia.The highway runs through a pristine part of the Amazon rainforest.It was opened by the military government in 1973 but soon deteriorated, and by 1988 was impassable.In 2008 work began to repair the highway, which will provide an alternative to boat travel along the Madeira River or flying between Manaus and Porto Velho.Protected areas have been created along the route in an effort to prevent deforestation when BR-319 is reopened, a serious concern given the devastation caused elsewhere by highways such as BR-364.As of mid-2016 paving of the middle section of the highway had yet to be approved. Construction permits will depend on measures to prevent future damage to the forest. - Source: Wikipedia
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