The creation of tunnels and roads also opened the western coastal stretch up to intense developments. During the 1970s the area witnessed a vastly accelerated urbanization process, allowing large swathes of the affluent population to relocate to the district of Barra da Tijuca as well as further west to Recreio dos Bandeirantes, home to spectacular parks and beaches. Large houses, condominiums, shopping malls and mansions began to populate the western landscape, giving rise to the most moderns districts in the city.

Starting in the 1990's, municipal powers have continuously stimulated city-wide developments, fully mobilizing the urban and ecological potential of the city, and promoting culture, leisure and sporting activities. The beaches have been transformed into leisure spaces for sports and activities such as musical performances and shows, while museums and art galleries have been revitalized and developed across the city. The general and cultural revitalization of the city included hosting important sporting events, such as the FIFA Soccer World Cup in 2014.