MinhocãoHow to heal an urban scar

Context

The main objective was to help relieve traffic congestion in central São Paulo.

“Minhocão" is an elevated highway of 3,5 km officially named "Via Elevada Presidente Costa e Silva”.

It was built in the administration of São Paulo former Mayor Paulo Maluf.

It’s estimated that the traffic volume on “Minhocão" exceeds 80,000 vehicles/day.

The highway connects the region of "Praça Roosevelt” to “Largo Padre Péricles"

Despite the fact of relieving the city traffic, this highway brought a lot of problems for those who live around it.

Lost of privacy

Noise and visual pollution

Air pollution leading to respiratory diseases (due to the volume of cars on the highway and it’s own structure holding emissions from the cars on the streets below).

Streets and avenues below became darker and shaded, rising crimes in the area.

Abandoned buildings230,000 people affected

Affected neighborhoods: Consolação, República, Santa Cecília and Barra

Funda.

What’s the main Problem?

How to solve it?

so…

The "Minhocão" causes social and health harm to the population living in the surrounding area.

ProposalMake one intervention that recovers the urbanistic and ambiental quality of the area, and be capable of preserve the presence of old dwellers, bringing new ones too.

- Demolishing some excerpts of road in order to obtain greater ventilation and lighting on the lower level.- Revitalizing abandoned buildings (turning them into SESC, SENAI, public health centers, etc.) and connecting them to “Minhocão".

- Keeping only a cycle track and a walk path in overall length of the highway and in areas where it's not conflicting with the city, use the highway to become parks and common living areas like “suspended islands".

Although a large portion of the population believes that the demolition would be the best solution, we have some problems.

Due to the very old region, this operation could compromise some structures of nearby buildings.

It would cost more than R$ 80 million.

It's a delicate work and it would take many years blocking essential streets and avenues below “Minhocão".

São Paulo lacks of social and inclusion initiatives on public spaces.

- It will drastically reduces noise, air and visual pollution.

The streets and avenues below will be revitalized.

- It will valorize alternative methods of locomotion.

- Park areas will help to hold rainwater (preventing it to go to other regions and cause flooding).

- The use of the pre-molded material of the demolished areas can be relocated in another public constructions.

- The community will be able enjoy cultural and artistic events and even practice sports on the complex.

And with this project…

But what about the cars?

With traffic engineering measures, the impact on the surroundings will be reduced.

There are already serious studies of traffic solutions, such as the construction of a tunnel following the route of the "Minhocão".

Also, there are studies as the Braess's paradox (created by the mathematician Dietrich Braess) which says that:

Sometimes, a highway working with extra capacity can reduce the overall efficiency of the road complex (Minhocão’s case).

And sometimes closing certain roads could in fact reduce delays.

Potencial Partners to this projectSão Paulo City Hall - on building the new “Minhocão" complex.

Itaú - with their bike mobility initiatives.

Brands and companies that sponsor sport events like the "São Silvestre”.

Caixa, Netshoes, Rexona…NGOs and collectives to provide inclusion programs (dance classes,

capoeira lessons, etc).

Pão de Açúcar - with its environmental concern and maintenance of parks and picnic areas.

Nome,.. contatoThanks!

Raphael Missiatto raphael.missiatto@gmail.com (19) 981177990