It's a metro exit that residents of the northern 17th arrondissement of Paris aren't very proud of. But very soon, the exit from the La Fourche metro station will be restored to its original appearance. This is according to an article published in Le Parisien on March 27. The daily reports that the work is due to start on March 31, 2025, and will last around six months.
As a reminder, in 1964, a bus crashed into the gate of this metro station, served by line 13. The wrought-iron railings of the metro entrance were damaged, and RATP had no choice but to build a concrete wall. At the time, many thought this was a temporary solution. But more than 60 years later, this concrete wall is still visible, distorting the exit from La Fourche station.
In a letter from Paris City Hall to the Direction de la Voirie et des Déplacements, published in 2023, it is stated that the aim of this rehabilitation project is " to renovate the access to La Fourche station on metro line 13, located at the corner of avenues de Clichy and Saint-Ouen ". In addition, " RATP has chosen to reconstruct the station according to the original Parisian urban architectural heritage, known as 'North-South' ", it adds.
As the Mairie du 17e arrondissement de Paris explains on its website, the aim is to " recreate the typical north-south access identical to that originally built " in 1911. To achieve this, the T-shape of the entrance will be retained, " but the existing concrete surround installed in 1964 will be replaced by a balustrade of wrought ironwork and pillars, complete with a North-South type porte-plan ", explains the Mairie d'arrondissement. As for the stile walls on either side of the staircases, they will be clad " in honey-tone North-South ceramic, decorated with a blue-tone floral frieze ".
The restoration project is intended to enhance the heritage of the Paris metro. In the letter sent to the Direction de la Voirie et des Déplacement, Paris City Hall explains that this restoration project " is part of an urban continuity that can be found on the other metro entrances in this district: Place de Clichy, Brochant, Guy Môquet and Porte de Saint Ouen ".
