Paris car ban along the river Seine deemed illegal

In September 2016, Paris closed a stretch of road along the River Seine to automobiles in an attempt to improve both the pedestrian experience and the city’s air quality. On Feb. 21, 2018, the Paris Administrative Court annulled the closure of the roads on the right bank of the Seine.

The court based its decision after it determined the impact study prior to the decision to close the lanes to vehicular traffic included “inaccuracies, omissions, and inadequacies concerning the effects of the project on traffic, emissions or air pollutants, and noise pollution,” according to the court’s website.

Not everyone in the area was thrilled with the car ban when it initially went into effect. Many were concerned about how the rerouted traffic would cause congestion in other areas, namely in the areas above the closed road with numerous restaurants and outdoor dining areas.

The car ban will remain in place until the appeal is heard.

Each year, the editors of Building Design+Construction honor 40 architects engineers, contractors, and real estate developers as BD+C 40 Under 40 awards winners. These AEC professionals are recognized for their career achievements, passion for the AEC profession, involvement with AEC industry organizations, and service to their communities.

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