In addition,
Motorway tunnel abandoned under station:
The city of Zurich has just inaugurated a new cycling tunnel under its central station. Furthermore, offering cyclists more direct and safer access to the city center. Moreover, This innovative project, called “Stadttunnel”, transforms an infrastructure initially designed for an urban highway into a passage dedicated to bikes.
440 meters long. Similarly, 6 meters wide in places, the tunnel allows cyclists to quickly and safely cross the station area, thus avoiding the dangers of road traffic on the surface.
The speed is limited to motorway tunnel abandoned under station 20 km/h. In addition. Consequently, it gives access to free underground parking of more than 1,200 bicycle spaces, directly connected to the quays of the station.
A former motorway project – Motorway tunnel abandoned under station
The story of this tunnel is special. Built in the late 1980s as part of an urban motorway project, it remained unused for years.
He was originally to be part of an ambitious connection plan between the A1. A3 motorways, forming an axis by crossing the city center motorway tunnel abandoned under station of Zurich. However, this controversial project aroused strong opposition from the population, leading to its abandonment.
It was in 2011 that the Pro Velo association launched a petition for its cycle retraining. Ten years later. 74% of Zurich citizens approved the project, leading to its inauguration this year after development work at a cost of nearly 40 million motorway tunnel abandoned under station francs.
Andrea Freiermuth, member of the Pro Velo Zurich Committee, does not hide his pride. “This is the greatest success in the history of Pro Velo Zurich. Additionally, ” she said on Wednesday in the morning of RTS. It is we who launched a petition. And now, it’s a reality. It makes us very proud. “
A symbol of mobility change
Municipal councilor Simone Brander. head of the dicastery of public works, underlines the symbolic importance of the project: “This is a sign of the change of transport in the city of Zurich. Instead of being a motorway motorway tunnel abandoned under station tunnel, we use it today for the bicycle. It is really a symbol of the new transport policy in the city.”
The cyclists interviewed salute this initiative. “This is certainly a good start. ” said one of them, while another appreciates “a safe and simple link” which avoids “going around the whole station with traffic lights”.
Persistent challenges
Despite this significant advance, Zurich faces challenges in the development of its cycle network. An ambitious plan aimed at building 135 km of priority cycle routes by 2031 is progressing slowly, with only 4.3 km made to date. The motorway tunnel abandoned under station numerous legal proceedings linked to the abolition of parking spaces slow down the process.
An additional challenge is in the form of a legal obstacle: a constitutional article prohibits Zurich from reducing the capacity. of its road network. Despite this constraint, the city remains determined in its cycle vision.
“Our objective is to offer sufficient and secure space for cycling traffic. Our projects benefit from large support, having been approved by popular voting and parliament. However, during concrete implementation, we often face oppositions that slow down their progress,” said Simone Brander.
Valentin Jordil
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