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Bastille Infrastructure Projects: Latest Developments and Updates This Week
Work on pedestrian spaces and connections around Place de la Bastille continues to progress under established city initiatives.
How we reported this
Nearly 7,000 m² of Place de la Bastille has been returned to pedestrians and cyclists under the Réinventons nos places project, which replaces the historic roundabout with a pedestrian esplanade.
Place de la Bastille Pedestrian Changes
The shift at Place de la Bastille forms part of wider efforts to improve access for people on foot and on bikes. This alteration reduces vehicle dominance at the central square and creates more open ground for movement in the area.
Works on Boulevard Henri IV
Infrastructure work on Boulevard Henri IV near Place de la Bastille included the addition of two unidirectional bike lanes, pedestrian islands and displaced bus quays. The main phase of this work ran from May to September 2025, according to project documents from the city.
Earlier Connection Project to the Arsenal
A separate €50 million project delivered a three-fold stairway and access ramp that links Place de la Bastille directly to the Bassin de l'Arsenal and Port de l'Arsenal. That connection was finished before the March 2020 municipal elections.
Viaduc des Arts Conversion
The Viaduc des Arts, a 1.3 km disused railway viaduct behind the Opéra Bastille, has been turned into an elevated tree-lined walkway and park. The structure now features 71 arches that house cafes and art shops, providing a continuous route above street level.
These projects together alter how residents and visitors move through the Bastille district by expanding space for non-motorised travel and improving links to nearby waterways and cultural sites. City records show the Boulevard Henri IV phase concluded in 2025, while the stairway and ramp to the Arsenal basins reached completion years earlier. The Viaduc des Arts transformation has already opened sections for public use with commercial spaces inside the arches.
Further phases of the Réinventons nos places work at Place de la Bastille remain under way. People can follow updates through the mairie12.paris.fr site or the linked project documents for any adjusted access during remaining works.