Medellin residents take the easy route

COLOMBIA’S second-largest city inaugurated a giant, outdoor escalator for residents of one of its poorest neighbourhoods.

For generations, the 12,000 residents of Medellin’s tough Comuna 13 — which clings to the side of a steep hillside — have had to climb hundreds of large steps, which authorities say are equal to a 28-storey building.

Now they can ride an escalator, which Medellin’s mayor said is the first massive, outdoor public escalator for use by residents of a poor area.

“It turned out very well,” said mayor Alonso Salazar, adding that he has not heard of any such project elsewhere in the world.

Mr Salazar said officials from Rio de Janeiro plan to visit Medellin to see if such an escalator would work in that city’s favelas, which are also built on hillsides.

Comuna 13 residents came out to celebrate and study the $6.7 million (€ 5.1m) escalator which officials say will shorten the 35-minute hike on foot up the hillside to six minutes. Use of the escalator is free.

Two escalators bring residents both up and down.

“This is a dream come true,” housewife Olga Holguin told RCN television.