(1) From open-air bus station to station plaza with world’s largest bicycle parking
The station plaza links the station ticket hall to the shopping centre and onwards to the historic centre centre. Underneath it is space for 12,500 bicycles across three floors, all floors can be cycled to and the ground floor is a through route for cycling.
Technically groups should seek permission to go inside, but if you want to look inside quickly you can do so from above via the steps from the station square.
The motorway and its service roads had up to 12 lanes at different points, now the canal is restored and there’s a since traffic lane in each direction.
As part of the train station/shopping centre/trade/fairground redevelopment the shopping centre now forms a continuous pedestrian link from the train station ticket hall, over the canal and into the heart of the old city centre.
You can walk through the shopping centre and also look down into the canal while inside the shopping centre.
(5) Motorway to canal at Marga Klompébrug
A view of motorway to canal at Marga Klompébrug, on the south side of the shopping centre:
(5b) Mariaplaats — street where traders told the city council, less parking please
(6) Moreelsebrug — walking and cycling bridge with trees on it across train tracks
“The Moreelsebrug was opened in December 2016. The prefab bicycle and pedestrian bridge is a railway span next to Utrecht Central Station and connects the Croeselaan and the Moreelsepark. The cepezed design is distinguished by, among other things, the integration of trees in the steel design.”
Transformed from urban dual carriageway to linear park
Croeselaan, is the parallel road on the other side of the train station to the motorway/canal conversion. Croeselaan has been transformed into a linear park. But it has not just been reduced in size to make way for more greenery, it is also no longer a through route for motorists.
