Nova Iguaçu officials report drainage damage during Via Dutra expansion

The City Hall of Nova Iguaçu has notified Ibama regarding damage to the municipal drainage network caused by the expansion works on the Via Dutra highway. Local authorities identified improvised repairs, known as ‘bacalhaus’, on pipes in the Rancho Novo neighborhood between Rua Luís Sobral and Avenida Nilo Peçanha.

The municipality warns that the highway expansion, a R$ 14 billion project, must include adequate drainage channels and galleries. Without proper infrastructure, the road could act as a barrier to rainwater, significantly increasing the risk of flooding in the city.

The concessionaire Ecovias Rio Minas is responsible for the works. The city alleges the company failed to meet a 90-day deadline set by the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) to deliver drainage studies and proceeded with paving instead of necessary corrections. The municipality has sought judicial intervention to halt the works, and the Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor's Office is monitoring the situation.