Car-free zone redevelopment to commence early next year

The plan to transform KN 4 Avenue into a “lively pedestrian corridor” is expected to come to fruition early into the New Year, City authorities have said. KN 4 Avenue, in the Central Business District (CBD) was on August 26, 2015, transformed into a pedestrian public space, where the City of Kigali envisioned that city dwellers and visitors will use the street without the pollutants and inconveniences that come with motor vehicles. The move by the City Hall to turn the stretch into a car-free zone (public space) received mixed reaction, but City authorities have maintained their primary stand was to make the CBD more vibrant, diversified, social and an inclusive public space of the city where people from different backgrounds come together for different recreational and commercial purposes. From the onset, authorities said the plan was to instantly develop the area and give it all the necessary amenities in the “shortest time possible.” “But that didn’t go according to the plan,” said City engineer Alphonse Nkurunziza. Concept design ready However, on Thursday, Saturday Times learnt that there have been behind-the-scene developments to ensure the plan comes to fruition, and, according to officials, the concept design for the redevelopment of KN 4 Avenue is ready. Pedestrians at Kigali car-free zone. / Timothy Kisambira Eng. Nkurunziza said the concept design is ready and the redevelopment work is due to commence as soon as January 2017, with the avenue likely to adopt a new name, “Imbuga-City Walk,” after its redevelopment. “We have since 2015 been meeting different companies asking them to design a development master plan. Most failed until recently when we got an experienced contractor who has designed similar project in some major cities across the world—to design the car-free zone development concept and supervise the construction works,” Nkurunziza said. “We now have the contractual master plan, but come January 2017, we will be putting down the detailed design while other construction works will follow. The project will transform the area into a vibrant open public space.” “Those detailed designs will take two months generally. Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA)—a company that designed the city master plan—is the one to do the remaining design and supervision work,” he said. According to the project design paper, the Car-Free Zone will accommodate facilities, “which welcome all-people regardless of gender, age, disabilities, social conditions and promote pedestrian freedom within the city.” Nkurunziza said come December 2017, the KN 4 Avenue would have gone under a “profound change” and it will have a different look altogether, allowing city dwellers, visitors and tourists to experience a different kind of urban tourism. KN 4 Avenue is surrounded by commercial activities (such as banks and shops) and the City Hall. Imbuga-City Walk Saturday Times understands that a master plan to guide the transformational work has also been drafted—with collaboration from the University of Rwanda College of science and technology and it includes a number of public space features. The Car-free zone shall be named Imbuga-City Walk after reconstruction wok is done. The concept design for Imbuga includes three different parts; ‘Exploring our past’ a segment that is dedicated to celebrate the Rwandan culture and tradition; and “Exploring our present”, which will guide visitors into the Sculptures that showcase present status of Rwanda and Rwandans through the ideals of inclusion, equity, sustainability and wellbeing. The third segment of the City walk will “embrace the future” in a way that the component around this part will explore the future of Rwanda—where space, society and nature are integrated and connected to attain harmony. This segment is subject to change depending on the events of that particular time. The City of Kigali has six goals; being a city of character, vibrant economy and diversity; a city of green transport; a city of affordable homes; a city of enchanting nature and biodiversity; a city of sustainable resource management and a city of endearing character and unique local identity. Having a vibrant pedestrian corridor ‘indisputably’ falls within each of the six goals, according to Nkurunziza. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Car-free zone redevelopment to commence early next year