Rio’s Christ the Redeemer to get new escalators and elevators

Brazil’s state-run oil giant Petrobras and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) have signed an environmental cooperation agreement to strengthen the management of Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janeiro, where Christ the Redeemer is located. Among the key measures is the modernization of the statue’s access system, including the replacement of the four escalators and the installation of two inclined elevators.

Construction will begin in August and is expected to be completed in May 2027. During this period, the number of visitors to the monument – Brazil’s most visited tourist attraction – will need to be reduced.

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Petrobras will invest BRL 15 million in the purchase and installation of the equipment. ICMBio will be responsible for overseeing the implementation, monitoring, and planning of the projects.

The new inclined elevators will improve accessibility for people with disabilities, the elderly, and visitors with limited mobility.

The municipal guard will reinforce order in areas with high visitor traffic, such as Vista Chinesa, Pedra Bonita, and Mirante Dona Marta - Tomaz Silva/Agência Brasil

Shared management

Also on Wednesday (Jul. 1), the city of Rio de Janeiro and ICMBio signed a cooperation agreement for the shared management of Tijuca National Park. The agreement outlines integrated measures for public planning, environmental conservation, and the protection of the conservation area’s historical, cultural, and landscape heritage.

According to acting Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere, the partnership should boost integration between the agencies responsible for managing the park.

The agreement will be in effect for five years and involves the participation of at least 19 municipal agencies –  including departments, foundations, companies, and management offices. The actions will be detailed in a work plan with goals, a timeline, and performance indicators.

In the view of João Paulo Ribeiro Capobianco, acting minister of the environment and climate change, the initiative strengthens the protection of one of Brazil’s main urban conservation areas.

Through this partnership, the city government will expand conservation and infrastructure services, including cleanup, tree pruning, drainage, and maintenance of street lighting. The municipal guard will reinforce order in areas with high visitor traffic, such as Vista Chinesa, Pedra Bonita, and Mirante Dona Marta, in addition to stepping up efforts to combat illegal parking.

The Municipal Secretariat for the Environment and Climate will monitor vegetation cover via satellite, promote reforestation of surrounding areas, and develop environmental education initiatives, including expanding field trips by students from the municipal school system to Tijuca National Park.