Rio Authorities Deliver Highway Linking Olympic Parks -- On the Scene

(ATR) It will now only take 20 to 30 minutes to travel between the Deodoro and Barra Olympic Parks.

Rio de Janeiro authorities on Monday inaugurated the Transolimpica highway, a 26 kilometer road connecting the two Olympic hubs. Along the highway will be a bus-rapid transit (BRT) line, which will transport athletes, officials and Games visitors.

Mayor Eduardo Paes called the inauguration the "last great legacy" to be delivered for the 2016 Olympics. The highway was originally supposed to be delivered in April, but delays in construction arose when parts of the highway needed to be rerouted.

"Construction of TransOlímpica could be made possible because of the Games," Paes told reporters. "It was thought of in the 1960s. [We waited] more than 50 years... we could another month."

City officials said in a release they expect 70,000 passengers a day to travel on the Transolimpica. A total of 18 BRT stations will line the highway. The Transolimpica will be connected to two existing BRT highways in the city, the Transoeste and Transcarioca, both of which were built before the FIFA 2014 World Cup.

Mayor Not Worried After Police Strike

Mayor Paes says police protesting at the city’s international airport is "not an Olympic problem."

Earlier on Monday, Paes had told CNN that the state had done a "terrible job" in delivering Olympic preparations. Paes told reporters during the Transolimpica inauguration that the state of Rio has always had issues with public security, but he still had faith in the government to keep the city safe.

"Security is a problem for all of us, always; we went through a bad time, but I have a lot of confidence in state government," Paes said. "I made a complaint last weekend regarding the procedures, but we will work in partnership. I have always worked in a partnership [with the state].

"We have to face the problems, and find solutions. I have great confidence in [governor] Dornelles ability to overcome these challenges."

Civil and state police protested lack of payment and the dangerous conditions in the city at Galeao International Airport. Protesters said that 55 officers have been killed in 2016.During next month's Games, 85,000 security officials will be charged with safeguarding the Olympic city.

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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