The strategic study, developed by professors and researchers from the University of Porto, aims to progressively transform the urban highway into a sustainable, integrated, and multimodal urban infrastructure, as noted in a statement.
For this reason, the University suggests the construction of green overpasses on the highways, creating pedestrian and cycling connections to reduce urban fragmentation resulting from the VCI.
To reposition this route as a structuring and cohesive element of the city, U.Porto proposes the creation of a large urban green belt, structured along the VCI’s trajectory, through the enhancement of green spaces and collaboration with parks, contributing to biodiversity, air quality, and the mitigation of the heat island effect.
In the statement, landscape architect and U.Porto Faculty of Sciences lecturer José Miguel Lameiras further explained that the study advocates “the requalification of the main VCI junctions as multifunctional areas, capable of accommodating new public spaces, affordable housing, collective facilities, and, in particular, retention basins for controlled flooding.”
The vision for this new urban corridor is based on principles of ecological planning and sustainable mobility, inspired by successful international examples, he noted.
The project also includes the creation of a multimodal urban transport system, integrating dedicated public transport channels, two road lanes, segregated bike paths, and pedestrian routes.
“This system will allow for the transportation of a significantly higher number of people with greater efficiency and less environmental impact compared to the current road model,” stated José Miguel Lameiras.
He added, “At the same time, it will contribute to reducing congestion and improving the city’s internal mobility by providing reliable public transport alternatives, including for the daily commuting flows in and out of Porto.”
The strategic study, part of the “Porto 2050: Weaving the City through the VCI” project and the opening theme for the new “University of Porto Conference Center,” will be presented on Wednesday at 5:30 PM at the U.Porto rector’s office.
The U.Porto Conference Center, to be coordinated by Elisa Ferreira and Valente de Oliveira, was established to position the university as a prime space for dialogue and critical reflection on major contemporary challenges, the higher education institution highlighted.
Through a regular program of conferences, meetings, and debates, the center aims to involve the academic community, public decision-makers, and civil society in creating impactful solutions for the region, the country, and the world.
The average daily number of vehicles on the VCI in Porto was 132,600 in 2024, up 1.1% from 131,200 in 2023, according to calculations made by the Mobility and Transport Institute (IMT) for Lusa.
