Matinhos waterfront: engineering, environment and social legacy

The revitalization of the Matinhos waterfront, on the coast of Paraná, is one of the largest coastal recovery projects ever carried out in Brazil. The intervention brought together urban planning, hydraulic engineering, sustainability and innovation to transform the city’s relationship with the sea, and Geplan was present at every stage.

In this article, you’ll go behind the scenes of this project, understand the technical challenges, the positive environmental impact and the role of management in delivering a project that has become a national benchmark.

A project for the present and the future

The work on the Matinhos waterfront did not just arise from the need for urban development. It was a response to historical problems of coastal erosion, which put streets, properties, businesses and the strip of sand itself, the city’s main attraction, at risk.

With a hefty investment and the work of several technical fronts, the project had the following goals:

• Increasing the sand strip to contain erosion
• Construction of wave energy containment and dissipation structures
• Implementation of cycle paths and public leisure spaces
• Revitalization of the surrounding urban infrastructure

As the company responsible for the management, supervision and technical control of the work, Geplan played a key role in ensuring that all phases were carried out with quality, safety and within the established deadlines.

The activities carried out include:

• Technical monitoring of excavations and dredging
• Control of the execution of geobags and hydraulic structures
• Supervision of urbanization fronts: sidewalks, lighting and landscaping
• Integration between public bodies, executing companies and the community
  

The constant technical presence of the Geplan team allowed for agile decisions, real-time adjustments and a transparent dialog with everyone involved, which was essential for the success of the project.

Sustainability and coastal engineering

The widening of the sand strip was not just an aesthetic project. It represented a direct action against the effects of climate change and coastal erosion, which are increasingly intense in coastal cities.

What’s more:

• Low environmental impact solutions were adopted, such as geobags and hydraulic containments designed for durability and safety
• The work included planting native species and sustainable landscaping
• Geplan ensured compliance with all environmental and monitoring protocols

The project has therefore brought social and environmental benefits: protection of urban infrastructure, increased tourist attractiveness, safety for residents and less ecological impact in the medium and long term.

Challenges faced and solutions applied

Like any large-scale project, the Matinhos waterfront presented complex challenges:

• Interference with the tide and the weather: required constant replanning and adaptive logistics
• Works in busy urban areas: required strict control of security and communication with the population
• Simultaneous execution of different fronts: required intense integration and daily monitoring by management

Geplan worked using control software, drones and weekly technical meetings, ensuring fluidity between the phases and compliance with environmental, contractual and legal requirements.

A legacy for Paraná

With the delivery of the new waterfront, the city of Matinhos has been transformed. Today, residents and tourists have more security, leisure areas, quality infrastructure and a stretch of sand that will be protected for decades to come.

Geplan is proud to have been part of this milestone. More than a construction project, the Matinhos waterfront is proof that engineering, when well managed, generates a positive and lasting impact. 📲 Follow the before and after of this transformation on our Instagram: @geplan
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