Brazil Judge Halts Sugarloaf Mountain Zipline Project

A Brazilian judge has suspended the development of a zipline linking Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro to the adjacent Morro da Urca. The attraction, which began construction four years ago, was projected to let visitors descend the mountain at nearly 100 kilometers per hour using four lines spanning 755 meters. The developer anticipated the project’s completion would be nearly 95% by the time it resumed in January after a legal pause.

Opposition to the initiative emerged from local communities and environmental groups, who contended that the construction was threatening the UNESCO World Heritage Site. They emphasized that the project required excavation of rock on Sugarloaf Mountain to install platforms, potentially causing irreversible harm. The company managing the site countered by stating that existing structures would minimize excavation impact.

“This ruling marks a significant win,” said Gricel Osorio Hor-Meyll, an activist leading the opposition campaign, to AFP news agency.

Despite earlier approvals from the Rio City Council and the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN), the project faced repeated delays due to legal challenges. The judge’s decision on Tuesday ordered the developer and IPHAN to compensate 30 million reals ($5.77 million, £4.35 million) for damages, highlighting the mountain’s global cultural significance.

The legal dispute has persisted for years, with construction halted multiple times as the company presented its case in court. While the high court permitted work to restart in January, citing that stopping it would cause greater harm, this latest ruling reversed that decision. The company is anticipated to file an appeal, ensuring the conflict continues.