Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • More
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Our stance on climate change
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
Home Environment

City of Hamburg to build public green spaces atop of noisy highway and become car free in 20 years

Mihai Andrei by Mihai Andrei
January 14, 2015
in Environment, News, Pollution
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

Three public parks will cover an Autobahn (highway) that passes through the city of Hamburg, in Germany. The 8,000-mile road network runs through Hamburg’s city center, dividing the city into an eastern and western half and creating a lot of disturbing noise. The problem will be solve through the addition of the green spaces.

Image via Senate Department for Urban Development and the Environment

The highway causes two main problems – first of all, it breaks the city’s continuity for pedestrians, and second of all, it creates a lot of pollution (dust, dirt, air pollution and noise pollution). As part of an effort to green the city, Hamburg will will build covers on three separate sections of the Autobahn. This will allow pedestrians not only to cross the street and be rid of most of the noise and air pollution, but also enjoy some new parks.

Hamburg is currently working on a plan that would eliminate the need for cars within the next 15-20 years, creating one of the most eco friendly and healthiest cities in the world. The city is working on a green network which will allow people on foot or riding a bike to access all the routes in the city. The Guardian explains:

Sorry to interrupt, but you should really...

...Join the ZME newsletter for amazing science news, features, and exclusive scoops. More than 40,000 subscribers can't be wrong.

   

ADVERTISEMENT

“[Hamburg] envisions a network that doesn’t just help residents get from point A to point B in a sustainable fashion,” with city spokesperson Angelika Fritsch adding “It will offer people opportunities to hike, swim, do water sports, enjoy picnics and restaurants, experience calm and watch nature and wildlife right in the city. That reduces the need to take the car for weekend outings outside the city.”

Hamburg wants to create a green network and become car free within 20 years. Image via ArchDaily.

These parks ontop of the highway will be embedded into the green network. The redesign will cover 3 km (2 miles) of the Autobahn, giving 60 acres (0.2 square km) of new green space back to the people of Hamburg. There is also an economic upside to this (aside for improving life quality) – the German government projects about 2,000 new homes can be built around the parkland.

What do you think about this initiative?

ADVERTISEMENT

Tags: environmentHamburghighwaypark
ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Andrei's background is in geophysics, and he's been fascinated by it ever since he was a child. Feeling that there is a gap between scientists and the general audience, he started ZME Science -- and the results are what you see today.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • More

© 2007-2019 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • More
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Our stance on climate change
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2019 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.