“A forgotten highway?” you might think, standing before the unassuming Voie CU/19. This short stretch of road nestled in the 19th arrondissement of Paris isn’t exactly a grand promenade. It’s a mere 30 meters long, a humble link between the avenue de la Porte du Pré Saint Gervais and the CT/19, a short but powerful reminder of the city’s relentless growth and transformation. Its narrow width – just 10 meters – further emphasizes its unimposing stature. But the Voie CU/19 holds within it the echoes of a pivotal moment in Parisian history – the construction of the Boulevard Périphérique, the city’s iconic ring road.
The story of the Voie CU/19 began in the 1960s, a period when Paris was striving to modernise its infrastructure. The expansion of the city required a new artery that would not only connect different parts of the burgeoning metropolis but also alleviate congestion on the historic heart of the city. The Boulevard Périphérique was born, a sprawling ring road designed to bypass the central city and ease traffic flow. This new road network, however, meant creating new routes and junctions, and one of them required the construction of this small connecting road.
The Voie CU/19, therefore, served as a necessary link, connecting the Boulevard Périphérique to the existing road network. Despite its short length, its role is crucial as it facilitated the flow of traffic and integrated this newly created road into the city’s infrastructure. Today, the Voie CU/19 might seem insignificant, a mere blip on the map. But it speaks volumes about the history and evolution of Paris, a testament to the city’s constant expansion and adaptation. The next time you find yourself exploring the 19th arrondissement, take a moment to admire this unassuming street, a silent but potent witness to the city’s grand architectural transformation.