This forward-thinking study, carried out by academics and researchers at U.Porto, suggests the installation of landscaped coverings over sections of the motorway to create continuous pedestrian and cycling routes, thereby reducing the urban fragmentation caused by the road. The overarching aim is to reposition the VCI as a structural and cohesive element within the city’s fabric.

A central feature of the proposal is the creation of a large urban green belt following the VCI’s path. This would enhance existing green spaces, connect them with nearby parks, and contribute to improved air quality, greater biodiversity, and a reduction in the urban heat island effect.

According to landscape architect and U.Porto lecturer José Miguel Lameiras, the plan also advocates for the redesign of key motorway junctions into multifunctional zones. These areas would incorporate public amenities, affordable housing, community facilities, and flood retention basins.

Inspired by successful international models, the proposal is rooted in ecological planning and sustainable mobility principles. It includes a multimodal transport system with dedicated public transport lanes, two vehicular lanes, segregated cycle paths, and pedestrian walkways.

This system, Lameiras noted, would offer a significantly more efficient and environmentally friendly transport alternative to the current road-based model, while easing congestion and improving inner-city mobility. It is particularly aimed at supporting the daily commuter flow into and out of Porto.

The project, titled Porto 2050: Weaving the City through the VCI, will be presented at the University of Porto’s new Conference Centre.