Copenhagen has transformed one of its most vibrant and busiest city center streets into a car-free green space in a new environmental experiment.
Starting Friday morning, May 1, authorities in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, began implementing a plan to close a central section of Vesterbrogade to vehicular traffic for seven months, as part of an urban experiment aimed at creating a temporary green space that provides more room for civic life, sitting and moving around, according to DR.
The closure includes the area known as Vesterbro Passage, located adjacent to the popular Tivoli amusement park and the Danish Industry House (Industriens Hus) on one side, and the Axel Towers buildings on the opposite side.
Transforming a busy road into a temporary green space
Authorities explained that the area, which until now has been a busy road with traffic, will be transformed until December 1st into a temporary urban space featuring wooden platforms, new trees, planters, and seating areas.
During the trial period, car traffic will be closed along Vesterbrogade between Hammerichsgade, Bernstorffsgade and HC Andersens Boulevard.
Buses, bicycles and pedestrians will still be able to pass through the area, but this traffic will be diverted to the north side of the road towards the away side of the Rådhuspladsen town hall.
The municipality is testing the new urban lifestyle.
The DR website stated that the aim of the project is to test how the area would function if more green spaces were provided and more room were made available for urban life during the day and night hours.
The Copenhagen municipality is also seeking to assess the impact of reducing car traffic on residents' and visitors' use of the space, in preparation for the possible future conversion of the area into a permanent urban park.
Citizens' assessment of the region's future
The website quoted Line Barfod, Copenhagen’s mayor for climate, environment and technology from the Unity List party, as saying that she was looking forward to seeing how Copenhagen residents would react to the new project.
“The trial period will show us what works and what doesn’t, and when we implement a permanent solution in the future, we will be able to modify it based on the experiences we gain during the trial period,” said Lina Parfod, as reported by DR.
She added: “We want to test the project to see how citizens evaluate what actually works.”.
The Green Park project was launched years ago
The report indicated that the idea of creating a green park in front of the Tivoli amusement park originated from an initiative in which the Tivoli management itself participated, along with other parties.
The Project Group, in collaboration with the architectural firm Gehl Arkitekter, has been developing the project since 2019, and has also prepared visual conceptions for the future plan of the area.
Cancellation of parking spaces and new traffic diversions
As part of the project, authorities will eliminate nine existing parking spaces along the street by next December, while creating two parking spaces specifically for people with disabilities on Jernbanegade Street.
The municipality will also implement temporary traffic diversions for drivers during the trial period, and confirmed that it will place directional signs during the trial period to inform drivers of the new diversion routes.
