Over the past years, eight joint METREX-EUROCITIES workshops on highway-to-boulevard conversion, urban transformation and green street design have taken place in Lyon (August and October 2021), Brussels (March 2022), Vilnius (June 2022), Amsterdam (October 2022), Prague (May 2023), Düsseldorf (October 2023) and Oslo (April 2024). Many of these workshops have been game changers in the local strategies and decision-making processes about the projects.
The Group has also published six From Roads-to-Streets Transformation Experiences Reports providing unique insights into the processes of adapting grey infrastructure to the social and environmental needs for today and the future (reports downloadable below):
- Helsinki’s City Boulevard Strategy and Projects
- Oslo: Rethinking City Fringe Highways in Hovinbyen
- Lyon: Regaining the Waterfront. M6/M7 Highway Transformation
- Brussels: From Expressways to Avenues. Delta-Herrmann-Debroux
- Barcelona : Metropolitan Avenues. C-245 Road & Meridiana Projects
- Warsaw: Green Streets? Jana Paula Avenue
The METREX Expert Group also been active in disseminating the learnings from the platform, taking part in events including the World Urban Forum in Katowice (June 2022), the URBACT RiConnect final event in Barcelona (July 2022), the Future Design of Streets Seminars in Porto (November 2022) and Guimaraes (June 2025), the Walk21 Conference in Lisbon (October 2024), the Marmara Urban Forum in Istanbul (October 2025), and the Portugal Mobi Summit in Oieras-Lisbon (October 2025).
Fine an extensive overview of all the activities at: https://en.institutparisregion.fr/international/from-expressways-to-boulevards/
Final report
A final report on Road-to-Street Transformation as a key component of sustainable development strategies for more livable, just, and resilient cities and regions, is currently being prepared. It will be ready in Spring 2026. Reflection is also underway for a future From Roads to Streets-Season 2 Expert Group.
MORE INFORMATION
The Institut Paris region webpage has been updated with new material, including slideshows: From Expressways to Boulevards: Converting Highways, Rethinking Cities and Regions https://en.institutparisregion.fr/international/from-expressways-to-boulevards/
Key contact
Group Leader
Paul Lecroart
Senior Urbanist, L’Institut Paris Region
Contact at the Secretariat
Viviana Rubbo
Events and Expert Groups manager, METREX
viviana.rubbo@eurometrex.org
