Underground construction site – clearing the way for the new metro Grand Paris also calls for organisation on an unprecedented scale. At the metro construction site in the Batignolles district of Paris, continuous communication is key. Everything is going to plan Grand Paris also calls for organisation on an unprecedented scale. At the metro construction site in the Batignolles district of Paris, continuous communication is key. Beneath the streets of Paris, there are giants at work. Tunnel-boring machines are burrowing through the ground and opening up the way for new metro lines. Maximum power for the tubes Beneath the streets of Paris, there are giants at work. Tunnel-boring machines are burrowing through the ground and opening up the way for new metro lines. Storing the prefabricated concrete components for lining the metro tunnel at the constricted inner-city construction site and making them available at the right time requires intelligent planning. Reaching for perfection Storing the prefabricated concrete components for lining the metro tunnel at the constricted inner-city construction site and making them available at the right time requires intelligent planning. Lowering the concrete shells into the metro shaft calls for a high degree of dexterity and experience on the part of the crane drivers. Space is tight down there. There is scarcely any scope for correcting manoeuvres. Down into the depths Lowering the concrete shells into the metro shaft calls for a high degree of dexterity and experience on the part of the crane drivers. Space is tight down there. There is scarcely any scope for correcting manoeuvres. After the giants beneath the ground are gone, the tunnel with its sparse lighting seems endless. A seemingly endless tunnel After the giants beneath the ground are gone, the tunnel with its sparse lighting seems endless.
Mobility reinvented – a paradigm shift in Paris Paris has had enough of mega-traffic jams. The magazine "Les Cahiers Scientifiques du Transport" reports that more and more Parisians are leaving their cars behind and switching to using trams, buses, trains and bicycles. From 1990 to 2015, the proportion of the city's traffic accounted for by cars fell by 45 per cent, while in the same period the proportion accounted for by public transport rose by 30 per cent. The Grand Paris infrastructure project will ensure that this trend continues into the future. An end to traffic jams Paris has had enough of mega-traffic jams. The magazine "Les Cahiers Scientifiques du Transport" reports that more and more Parisians are leaving their cars behind and switching to using trams, buses, trains and bicycles. From 1990 to 2015, the proportion of the city's traffic accounted for by cars fell by 45 per cent, while in the same period the proportion accounted for by public transport rose by 30 per cent. The Grand Paris infrastructure project will ensure that this trend continues into the future. Paris is suffering the same fate as many other large cities. The limits for fine particulates and nitrogen oxides are being exceeded more and more often. The authorities then react by imposing entry bans on numerous types of cars. Poor air quality Paris is suffering the same fate as many other large cities. The limits for fine particulates and nitrogen oxides are being exceeded more and more often. The authorities then react by imposing entry bans on numerous types of cars. Pedestrianisation is "chic". Numerous pedestrianised areas have been established in Paris. Some are car-free all year round, like the Quartier du Sentier, Rue Montorgueil, Rue des Lombards, Montmartre or Les Halles, while others ban vehicles only on Sundays and holidays. The Champs-Élysées, for example, is closed to vehicles on the first Sunday of each month. Caring for pedestrians Pedestrianisation is "chic". Numerous pedestrianised areas have been established in Paris. Some are car-free all year round, like the Quartier du Sentier, Rue Montorgueil, Rue des Lombards, Montmartre or Les Halles, while others ban vehicles only on Sundays and holidays. The Champs-Élysées, for example, is closed to vehicles on the first Sunday of each month.