This study aims to evaluate the influence of daily traffic and road construction of a new stretch of BR-040, between Duque de Caxias and Petrópolis, in the emission and composition of the particulate matter (PM) of the region. The construction works started in 2014 and were interrupted in June 2016. The traditional monitoring of PM and biomonitoring with transplanted Tillandsia usneoides and Tillandsia stricta were conducted at six sampling sites along the highway. The Laboratory of Atmospheric Pollution Studies (LEPA) provided filters containing total suspended particulates (TSP), collected between 2014 and 2016. inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) and ion chromatography (IC) were used to the chemical characterization of TSP. In 2014, the highest average concentrations of TSP were observed at points close to the toll. In 2016 there was no difference in TSP concentrations between periods with works and in their absence. The major element in the PTS was Fe and the greatest enrichment factors (FE) were obtained for Cu, Cd and Ni. The ions in higher concentrations were NO3 -and SO4-2 , associated with vehicular emissions. Biomonitoring, conducted in 2018, showed enrichment of Mn, Zn and Cd in most sites. T. stricta presented higher FE, which may be related to the sites of origin or physiology of the plants. A previous analysis of oxidative stress biomarkers revealed correlations between metallothionein and Fe, Mn, Co, Cu, Ni and Zn, indicating higher concentrations than the physiological ones for these metals. Concentrations of other biomarkers reduced glutathione and H2O2 were also evaluated.