Urban planning – During a public meeting organized on Monday November 18the city of Amiens announced the permanent closure of Salvador-Allende Avenue to motorized traffic. It is following a experiment carried out from June to November 2024 as well as a study carried out by the independent firm MobiSim which supported the decision taken by the city. The goal is to restore historical unity of the park while keeping a ecological aspect by making this avenue a greener space. The first work will begin in 2025.
A greener avenue
Salvador-Allende Avenue was created in the 1970s. At that time, the priority was to circulate vehicles, greatly reducing its accessibility for pedestrians. Nowadays, this park needs rehabilitation because it no longer meets the expectations of residents, particularly in the face of contemporary issues. Thanks to the work that will be carried out, it will make it possible to create a safer and more welcoming spacein harmony with the commitments of the municipal team in favor of the ecological transition.
In this new space, more than 800 trees will be planted and developments will highlight the biodiversity. Everything will be thought of to make this avenue a wellness area both for nature and for the inhabitants.
A conclusive experiment
The experimentation and in-depth impact study, carried out from June to November, of the closure of Salvador-Allende Avenue to motorists, made it possible to analyze the situation on vehicle flows. The results of the study therefore determined a limited increase of 30 seconds to 2 minutes during peak hours, with good absorption of flows by the surrounding network; secondary routes, such as Jean Jaurès and Bicêtre, have recovered a share of traffic (30 to 45%), without major congestion; and a significant reduction in traffic on the Pré Forêt – Fédérés axis (-25% to -65%), improving local fluidity. The data collected confirms the relevance of the closure.
However, some users are likely to perceive this closure as a constraint. To support this closure, changes will be made such as the reprogramming of lights, reopening of lanes on certain routes such as Mendes France, and specific developments (turn left, turn right). These adjustments will be adapted gradually according to the needs of users. The goal is to make this traffic change fluid. The city remains attentive to merchants near the park for any requests.
Urban planning work to rehabilitate the park
At the beginning of 2025, the rehabilitation operations of the Hotoie park will begin with the developments at the entrance to the park. This work will include:
- The arrangement of triangles aimed at improving the functionality and aesthetics of spaces;
- The requalification of the zoo parking lot to better meet the needs of visitors;
- The transformation of Salvador-Allende Avenue into a transitional space dedicated to soft mobility and pedestrians, promoting peaceful circulation in the park.
This rehabilitation will make it possible to make the Hotoie park more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists, but also to make this space more green and pleasant. Indeed, developments will be made to improve traffic and make journeys safer, while integrating more green areas. This temporary closure is therefore a necessary step to breathe new life into this space, by reintegrating nature in a sustainable way.
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