Boulevard Euroméditerranée

Other than the reshaping of public spaces and the roads, the guiding principle of the project consisted of reopening the coast to the people of Marseilles. Spanning 2.5 km, this sea front development extends from the CMA CGM tower to the Vieux Port. One of the first major work sites of this coastal recapture was the demolition of the motorway viaduct and burying of the A55. Once the tunnel completed, a 45-metre wide urban boulevard was developed at the surface. Called the boulevard du Littoral then baptised “Boulevard Euroméditerranée” in 2015, it made it possible to reduce vehicle traffic to create a large, quality pedestrian square between the town and the port. The boulevard boasts especially large pavements planted with trees bordering on cycle paths.

The boulevard Euroméditerranée won the MIPIM 2015 "Best Urban Regeneration project" award.

On its nomination for the 2015 MIPIM Awards, the project manager Yves Lion looked back over the essence of boulevard d’Euroméditerranée, flagship development of the urban renovation operation.

“I created this Boulevard in the aim of recapturing a coastline” confirms Yves Lion. “Since the 40s-50s, Marseilles was no longer in contact with its port. The motorway viaduct was a significant obstacle. With it gone, we were able to develop a 3-kilometre continuous boulevard. This is of benefit to urban dynamics and marks the foundation of a new district. For fourteen years we carried out substantive work on a site which never ceased to amaze us. It is my job to think transformation, to re-reveal a forgotten heritage. But also to encourage ideas and provide the best example for others to follow. The future of Marseilles is in the North. It can become a very big city.”

In figures, the development of this new boulevard summaries the extent of the change:

• 45 pedestrian crossings
• 12 bus stops
• 143 street lamps
• 65,500 plants, 19,000 bushes and 657 trees

All financed by the partners of Euroméditerranée.