Rio Mayor Crivella Claims Niemeyer Avenue Is Now Safe

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Bishop Marcelo Crivella on Friday, January 31st, visited the hillside containment works on Niemeyer Avenue and gave assurances that the road is entirely safe. However, it is worth recalling that it is the same man who drove a tractor along Tim Maia’s bike path and said it would no longer collapse.

Now, after the work has been completed at a cost of R$34 (US$8,5) million, the municipal Prosecutor’s Office (PGM) petitioned the courts to reopen the road, which has been closed since May 28th, 2019. According to a court order, the deadline for the Prosecutor’s Office to give its formal opinion on the reopening ends today.

“Today, with all these works, Niemeyer is safe for both dry and rainy weather,” said the mayor, during the inspection. “We are here to tell the population of Rio de Janeiro that 100 percent of the works have been carried out”.

New protocols

Crivella explained that new closing protocols have been stipulated that provide total safety for reopening. The avenue will be constantly monitored and closed preventively in the event of rainfall of 38 millimeters in one hour, with winds of up to 70km/h.

For public safety and reassurance, the new parameter is well below the volume sustained by the avenue, which, according to technicians, is 110 millimeters of rainfall per hour and winds of up to 130 km/h.

The mayor was at the site along with the municipal secretary of Infrastructure, Housing and Conservation, Sebastião Bruno, and the president of Geo-Rio, Ernesto Mejido.

“The full technology of the geotechnical area was employed here. Everything has been completed. And we are submitting the requested information to the court,” reported Sebastião Bruno.

For the time being, the 3rd Circuit Court of Rio de Janeiro’s ruling, which ordered the maintenance of the ban on Niemeyer Avenue, is still in force while the court awaits the Prosecutor’s Office opinion.

Works carried out

Works were carried out at 56 points along the road leading up to the Vidigal favela. Among other works, City Hall carried out the installation of deep drains, the re-establishment of the drainage system, the elimination of sewage input and the installation of retaining walls, clamped screens, anchors and tied back walls. The risks of mudslides from the slope’s surface are ruled out.

Thirty-four houses along the avenue have also been knocked down, and 34 families are currently paid compensatory housing benefit. Another 17 residential buildings – in which 30 families live – will be demolished. Negotiations have already been finalized with 20 of these families, while others are still in progress.