In the 1970s the Ponte Presidente Costa e Silva (President Costa and Silva Bridge) was built, better known as the Rio-Niterói Bridge, one of Brazil's most imporant engineering landmarks. In 1974 a new law resulted in the states of Guanabara and Rio de Janeiro to be merged, resulting in Niterói no longer being the capital. This led to many changes and to much of the population of Niterói to migrate.

In the late 1980s, the city rediscovered its cultural heritage and vocation. Important buildings and sites were constructed and restored, such as the Teatro Municipal João Caetano (João Caetano Municipal Theatre) and the Igreja de São Lourenço dos Índios (Saint Laurence Church of the Indigenous).