A rendering of Avenue de la Grande Armée as it may look from the top of the Arc de Triomphe after works have completed.
Photographer: ©PCA-StreamCar-Clogged Paris Avenue Gets a Pedestrian Makeover
The Avenue de la Grande Armée is a key thoroughfare between suburbs and the city center. Its new design will halve the space for cars in exchange for wider sidewalks and green space.
Paris’ ongoing push to replace car lanes with sidewalks, bike paths and greenery stepped up a gear this week, with the unveiling of plans to remodel one of the city’s busiest, most polluted thoroughfares.
Avenue de la Grande Armée — which runs from the Place de l’Étoile out towards the suburbs — is a pivotal street, famous among Parisians, mirroring the Champs Élysées on the other side of the Arc de Triomphe. Compared to the Champs Élysées, the street is more popular with locals than tourists, because it links the city core to La Défense, France’s main business district, via Neuilly, known as Paris’ wealthiest, most exclusive “suburb” despite being densely built and close to the center.