DENVER | The artist Christo is once again delaying the timeline for exhibiting his Over the River project amid legal challenges against agencies that have given approvals for it.

Christo’s team had projected that it could be displayed as early as August 2015. It would suspend 5.9 miles worth of shimmery fabric panels over parts of a 42-mile stretch of the Arkansas River and take 28 months to install.

Christo said Tuesday that given pending legal challenges, it will be impossible for a 2015 display. He didn’t say when he thinks the project could be completed.

Christo and his late wife, Jeanne-Claude, first got the idea for Over the River in 1992.

Opponents have cited concerns about how the project would affect wildlife, traffic and visitors’ safety.

Christo’s team would have had to start ordering equipment as early as next week if the project were to be ready for display in 2015, team spokesman Steve Coffin said.

The group Rags Over the Arkansas River has filed a lawsuit challenging state parks officials’ approval of Over the River. It also filed a federal lawsuit arguing that Bureau of Land Management officials violated environmental laws in issuing Christo a permit. Action on the federal lawsuit has been paused while an appeal board of the Interior Department reviews the matter. It could take months more for that review, Christo’s team said.

Waiting for years to carry out a project is nothing new for Christo. The Gates in Central Park in New York took 26 years to become reality, he said.

“It’s a reality of the project. A number of people are trying to stop it,” Christo said.

“I’m 77 and, knock on wood, I’m in very good health. We all hope to have the project soon,” Christo said by telephone from Canon City, where he was briefing supporters.