One of the world’s most recognizable urban spaces is slated to get a dramatic makeover. According to the plan, the currently car-filled bridge connecting the Eiffel Tower with the Métro subway system will be turned into a pedestrianized garden, stringing together a set of two new public squares and restored parkland that will create an unbroken spine of greenery a mile long across the city.
By transforming the area into a green oasis, car traffic in the immediate vicinity of the Eiffel Tower would be slashed, making the area altogether more inviting to walkers without notably altering the appearance of what could be the most famous urban ensemble in the world. Currently, most visitors emerge from the Métro at Trocadéro into a busy carousel of traffic, with an (admittedly pretty) garden marooned behind surging car lanes. The redesign removes these car lanes and replaces them with a stepped amphitheater of lawn, creating a large garden for lounging with stunning views of the tower.
It is due for completion in 2024 and will be entirely funded by ticket sales to the tower. The plans to transform the Eiffel Tower area into a car-free area is just the latest in a recent trend across European cities where congested streets are getting replaced with pedestrian-friendly promenades.
