Technology
Canal Saint-Martin Gets €15 Million Upgrade for Cyclists and Pedestrians
The project expands bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure along the waterway as part of broader resource-focused initiatives.
How we reported this
The City of Paris has committed €15 million to redevelop Canal Saint-Martin by 2026, adding 3.4 km of bicycle facilities, 147 new bike bays and 10,400 m² of pedestrian space.
This spending forms part of ongoing smart city work that links mobility upgrades with biodiversity measures. Canal Saint-Martin runs 4.5 km from the Port de l'Arsenal to the Bassin de la Villette and features nine locks plus underground sections. The waterway is drained every 15 years for maintenance, a schedule that now overlaps with new green infrastructure plans.
Project scope and timeline
The €15 million allocation targets soft mobility and biodiversity. It will create dedicated bike lanes, additional parking bays and expanded walking areas along the canal banks. A separate public swimming zone will open in the Bassin des Récollets from July 5 to September 6, 2026, using filtered canal water under lifeguard supervision.
These steps build on earlier work. In 2019 the City of Paris installed its first vegetated floating raft on the canal, a 40 m² structure made from recycled materials that supports 620 local plants.
Funding context and next steps
RATP Group’s Smarter City programme has already directed mine water into the canal and the Seine as part of efforts to reuse resources amid urban scarcity. The current €15 million outlay continues that pattern of directing public funds toward combined mobility, water and habitat outcomes. Further phases will focus on planting additional vegetation and installing biodiversity refuges, following the same approach used for the 2019 raft.
Residents and visitors can expect continued construction through 2026, with the new bike facilities and swimming area serving as the most visible early results of the investment.