Mayor announces R$ 20 million for staircase restoration.
ACM Neto launched the 'Degrau Legal' program this Thursday, which has already begun to renovate staircases in all regions of Salvador; the program foresees improvements in 300 staircases; "We selected the staircases that were in the worst condition, those that posed the greatest risk to the population. These will be the subject of immediate intervention by the City Hall. We intend to invest up to R$ 20 million in this program because, in some places, other interventions will be necessary, such as slope containment and drainage works," said the mayor.
Bahia 247 - Mayor ACM Neto (DEM) and the Secretary of Infrastructure and Civil Defense, Paulo Fontana, launched this Thursday (31), at the Thomé de Souza Palace, the 'Degrau Legal' program, which has already begun to recover staircases in all regions of Salvador. The program foresees improvements in 300 staircases, divided into two phases. The first of these, covering 150 staircases, is already underway in neighborhoods such as Barbalho, Calabetão, Macaúbas, Cosme de Farias, Pernambués and Lobato.
The second phase will begin in October, in another 150 locations. The investments total R$ 16 million, with R$ 8 million in each phase, but the mayor has already guaranteed that the resources could reach R$ 20 million, depending on the interventions needed in each location.
"We selected the staircases that were in the worst condition, those that posed the greatest risk to the population. These will be the subject of immediate intervention by the City Hall. We intend to invest up to R$ 20 million in this program because, in some places, other interventions will be necessary, such as slope containment and drainage works. The program will also extend to the years 2015 and 2016 and, by then, we may have benefited a thousand staircases. We want to give the population full mobility, especially the poorest people, who are precisely the ones who need to use the city's staircases. By the end of this administration, we will have managed to recover a significant part of Salvador's staircases," said ACM.
Secretary Paulo Fontana explained that the actions will guarantee the safety and mobility of residents in the benefited areas. Prefabricated structures will be removed for the construction of permanent ones, the drainage network will be restored, rainwater will be managed, slopes will be contained, and handrails will be installed on a large portion of the staircases. Also aiming at accessibility, steps are being standardized to correct any distortions.
"The works will be done in stages, so as not to hinder the mobility of residents. Although the concrete takes 28 days to cure, we will use an additive to accelerate the timeframe for completion," added Fontana.
Locations that benefit
Sixty neighborhoods will benefit, including Engenho Velho de Brotas, Barbalho, Comércio, Cosme de Farias, Santo Antônio, Bairro da Paz, Nova Brasília de Itapuã, Macaúbas, Lobato, Boa Vista do Lobato, Alto das Pombas, Calabar, Engenho Velho da Federação, Federação, Nordeste de Amaralina, Alto do Cabrito, Caixa D'Água, Cidade Nova, Curuzu, Fazenda Grande do Retiro, Horto Calafate, IAPI, Pero Vaz, São Caetano, Calabetão, Sussuarana (Nova and Velha), Jardim Cajazeiras, Pau da Lima, and Campinas de Pirajá. Since the beginning of the administration, more than 30 staircases have already had their restoration works completed. The work was carried out in neighborhoods such as Bela Vista do Lobato, Alto do Bom Viver, Plataforma, Pirajá, and Alto do Cabrito.