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Rio de Janeiro City Hall begins the third phase of the Smooth Asphalt Program in Tijuca.
Published on 22/03/2026 - 17:31 | Updated on 25/03/2026 - 17:53
In total, the program includes the paving of 552 streets. Photo: Rafael Catarcione Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere launched the third phase of the Smooth Asphalt Program this Sunday (March 22), with investments of R$ 315 million for the maintenance of public roads in Tijuca, Centro, and Zona Sul between 2026 and 2028. In total, the program foresees the paving of 552 streets, corresponding to 629,16 km of revitalized area across the city, with a total investment of over R$ 1 billion.
"It's only possible to make an investment of this size, almost one billion reais in asphalt by 2028, when there's good management. Saving on things that aren't priorities, in order to change people's lives. Here, in the Tijuca region, it's very necessary, with areas that have potholed streets. And along with the asphalt, we're also going to renovate sidewalks, where we're doing the 'Smooth Asphalt' project. Extremely important for Greater Tijuca and for the entire city," Cavaliere emphasized.
This phase includes asphalt paving services, including milling and resurfacing. Mariz e Barros, Almirante Cochrane, and Santo Afonso streets will be the first to receive improvements, totaling 2,6 km in length.
To reduce the impact on traffic, the work will be carried out at night, between 21 pm and 6 am. The road closures have the operational support of CET-Rio (Rio de Janeiro's traffic management company), the Municipal Department of Transportation, and the Subprefectures.
According to the Secretary of Conservation, Diego Vaz, the goal is to revitalize the city's main thoroughfares, focusing on road safety and urban mobility.
– Improving the asphalt is an essential part of tackling urban disorder. Potholed, poorly maintained streets have a direct impact on traffic, safety, and the quality of life for the people of Rio. Repairing the pavement of the city's main roads ensures that public services function better. We chose Tijuca to start this program because several streets were not included in phases 1 and 2 – explained the Secretary of Conservation.
Throughout the city, the Smooth Asphalt Program has been expanding since 2024. In the second phase, more than R$ 1 billion was invested. In 2025, the investment was R$ 427 million, and the budget forecast from the Department of Conservation for this year is R$ 780 million.
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