Garibaldi Street in Lyon Finally Reopens After Extensive Renovation
Lyon, March 1, 2026 – The third and final phase of renovation work on Garibaldi Street, one of Lyon’s longest thoroughfares, has been successfully completed. This extensive project, which included significant greening efforts and the addition of new bike lanes, has been met with positive feedback from local residents and businesses, who are enjoying the street’s new look and improved functionality.
The recent sunny days have particularly highlighted the transformation. Between Rue d’Arménie (3rd arrondissement) and Grande Rue de la Guillotière (7th arrondissement), Garibaldi Street now boasts numerous newly planted trees, a brand-new bike path, and lighter road surfacing. This marks the completion of the third section of a large-scale redevelopment project initiated by the Métropole in 2014.
From Urban Highway to Green Corridor
Garibaldi Street, which traverses three of Lyon’s arrondissements (6th, 3rd, and 7th), was originally conceived as an “urban highway in the 1960s.” This design, as noted by the local authority, created a “major urban divide between the east and west of the neighborhoods.” To address this, a “true transformation of this axis” began over a decade ago, with the project aiming to “rebalance public space in favor of active modes of transport.”
This third phase of work, spearheaded by environmental initiatives, “continued the objectives of the first two phases of development, while integrating Lyon’s Cycle Routes 7 and 9 and articulating with the development of Avenue Félix Faure for the accommodation of line TB12.”
Key Improvements and Features
In total, over 630 linear meters have been redeveloped. A significant part of the transformation involved planting 130 new trees and reusing 15,000 m³ of materials to fill the Félix-Faure/Gambetta road trench, which has now been removed from the landscape. The project also focused on a new distribution of transport modes to “make travel safer,” notably by removing parking spaces and two car lanes to make way for cycling and bus lanes.
Positive Reception from the Community
Both local shopkeepers and residents have largely expressed their appreciation for the new layout. Juan, who has owned a bicycle shop on the street for three years, commented, “The result is really nice, the bike lanes are great.” However, he also noted, “The sidewalk is slightly small, it could have been better, and in terms of the work, there was zero communication, zero help, which complicated my business.”
Juliette, a young resident, shared her satisfaction: “The work was a bit long and difficult, especially for access, because I had barriers right in front of my house and every day it changed to be able to get out of Place Stalingrad. But I am super happy with the result, I think it’s magnificent, the bike path being so well laid out, it’s safer and it’s cool to see that there is vegetation.”
The completion of this project marks a significant step forward in Lyon’s efforts to create a more sustainable and pedestrian-friendly urban environment, with a focus on green spaces and active transportation.
Source: https://actu.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/lyon_69123/lyon-les-travaux-dans-cette-grande-rue-enfin-termines-son-nouvel-amenagement-plait_63894322.html
