Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

The renovations of the areas currently under construction were presented

Milan, May 20 2020 - The creation of a continuous area that from the Duomo, through Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Piazza San Babila, leads to Largo Augusto and, through the redevelopment of Piazza Santo Stefano, up to the pedestrian area of ​​the State University between Via Festa del Perdono and Largo Richini, redeveloping a historic area with a strong pedestrian vocation, is the objective of the reorganization project of the areas currently occupied by the M4 construction sites which characterizes Piazza San Babila and Largo Augusto and allows more space for pedestrians, greenery and bicycles as well as to the connection with public transport and taxis.

With the creation of the blue line which comes from the neighborhoods to the east of the city and from Linate in the west direction - San Cristoforo and vice versa, Piazza San Babila becomes one of the most important public transport interchange nodes and for this reason the reorganizations take strong account of the connections with the subway, surface transport and taxi stops.

The reorganization project of Piazza San Babila and Largo Augusto was presented today by Marco Granelli, councilor for Mobility and Public Works, by the President of M4 S.p.aA., Fabio Terragni and by the representatives of the Urban Planning department to the President Fabio Arrigoni and to the councilors of Municipality 1 and to the traders' and citizens' associations.

“The reorganization of the area, at the end of the construction of the new metro line – declares Marco Granelli, Councilor for Mobility – represents a great opportunity to restore coherence to the entire Duomo - San Babila - Largo Augusto area and enhance its strong pedestrian vocation also taking up the 1996 project by Caccia Dominioni. With the realization of this project we will improve mobility in the city by facilitating connections between surface and underground lines as well as with taxis and we will give more liveability to one of the most central and well-known areas of Milan".

The expansion of the pedestrian area of ​​Piazza San Babila allows the two sides of the square to be connected and the pedestrian area to be extended to Largo Toscanini, creating a path for pedestrians along Corso Europa which, through the creation of a restricted traffic zone, will be made accessible only to public transport, taxis and loading/unloading vehicles at permitted times, integrating it with a new cycle path. Corso Europa is designed to be one-way in the stretch between Via Borgogna and the Largo Corsia dei Servi car park and between Via Cavallotti and Largo Bersaglieri. Consequently, in via Borgogna the turnaround maneuver is assumed to be reserved only for taxis and private vehicles. For Largo Augusto, the proposal is to close the two lateral corridors to traffic, guaranteeing vehicles the continuity of the itinerary via Cesare Battisti - via Cavallotti - Corso Europa - Via Larga, also maintaining the left turn from Largo Bersaglieri to Via Verziere.

As regards the reorganization of the area, the projects presented include a new pavement in national granite cubes laid in parallel rows in continuity with Largo Toscanini, Corso Europa and Largo Bersaglieri, Verziere and Largo Augusto; a great urban mending made of small monochromatic details on which monuments, fountains and new green areas emerge. Largo Toscanini, for example, is redesigned with level paving with new trees and with access permitted only to public transport services and taxis. The stretch from Largo Bersaglieri to Largo Augusto also includes new trees reminiscent of the round umbrellas of the old market.

Photo gallery

Focus M4 – Central section (San Babila and Largo Augusto)