From: BBC News
The Brazilian government is seeking to repave the almost impassable BR-319 route between Porto Velho and Manaus. But the plan is controversial because the 900 km (560 mile) road cuts right through the Amazon rainforest.
The BBC's Ben Sutherland is travelling along the BR-319; meeting the people whose lives are set to change as the road is upgraded.
The BR-319 was originally built in the 1970s, but abandoned after a decade - the military government of the time failing in its effort to develop the region.
The major part of what remains is little more than a 900km dirt track.
But this is all set to change - and the BBC is going to find out how and who will be affected.The federal government is seeking to push ahead with plans to improve the BR-319, seeing it as key to boosting the region's economy.
Manaus is one of the country's most isolated cities, but with a permanent link to Porto Velho and the Latin American countries that lie beyond, there are hopes that some of the poorest areas of the country can be opened up for growth and development.
However, the plan is not without opposition.
Many environmental groups have raised concerns about the potential destruction the road could cause to the rainforest.
This is an area where a total of 130 military police are tasked with preventing illegal logging.
How they go about this task, and how rebuilding the road might change their approach, is just one of the stories we will be looking at once we head into the forest.
I will be travelling with my colleagues Eric Camara from BBC Brasil and Rami Ruhayem from BBC Arabic along the BR-319, documenting the lives of the people who live along it.
Ultimately, we are hoping to build a full archive of life along this hugely controversial piece of highway, before it is changed forever.