Paris: Place du Trocadéro reopens to traffic after months of restrictions

Traffic is set to return to the Place du Trocadéro (16th arrondissement). The concrete blocks installed on the southern part of the site will be removed, putting an end to the controversial organization of traffic. The decision has been welcomed by the Mairie d'Arrondissement, which had been calling for this change for several months.

On Tuesday evening, following a meeting at Hôtel de Ville attended by Police Prefect Laurent Nuñez, 16th arrondissement Mayor Jérémy Redler, Paris Senator Francis Szpiner, as well as representatives from the fire department, RATP and Île-de-France Mobilités, it was agreed that traffic would be restored. The closure, deemed temporary as part of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, had led to major malfunctions.

A configuration criticized for its impact on traffic and safety

Since the installation of television studios to cover the Olympics, traffic had been reorganized in a horseshoe pattern, causing increased congestion, slowing down public transport and complicating emergency vehicles.

" The mayor's office of the 16th arrondissement and all the qualified personalities have reaffirmed the need to reopen," says a press release from the arrondissement. Collectives of local residents and shopkeepers had also expressed their dissatisfaction with the difficulties caused.

At present, delivery trucks are forced to park in cycle lanes with no other option, inconveniencing cyclists and visitors to the Musée de l'Homme.

A massive consultation on the future of the site

Faced with criticism and injunctions from the police prefect in October 2024, Paris City Hall had launched a citizen consultation on the redevelopment of the square, which closed on February 2. With 41,000 participants, 1,100 proposals and over 520,000 votes cast, the future of the Place du Trocadéro continues to provoke lively debate.

While tourists welcomed this car-free access for greater safety, local residents and businesses were relieved to see the end of what they called a "suffocating" square.

Towards a compromise between traffic and vegetation?

Initially, Paris City Hall wanted to perpetuate the pedestrianization by adding 2,000 m² of green space, new pedestrian crossings and service kiosks. Now, the municipal executive will have to come to terms with the mayor of the 16th arrondissement, who is calling for consultation with all stakeholders on a project that combines greening, safety for cyclists and maintenance of traffic flow.

While the reopening of traffic has now been confirmed, the future layout of the Place du Trocadéro has yet to be written.