Comprehensive restoration of urban connectivity through the creation of a system of multi-level highway spaces

Abstract

Contemporary cities face the challenge of disrupted urban connectivity due to the intensive development of transport infrastructure. Wide highways and interchanges, while improving vehicular mobility often become barriers for pedestrians, undermining the integrity of the urban environment. This article explores techniques for restoring connectivity through the creation of multi-level pedestrian spaces – architectural solutions that vertically separate vehicular and pedestrian flows. Based on the analysis of practical experience and theoretical research, the key approaches to organizing multi-level pedestrian spaces are proposed: structures with underground, semi-underground, ground-level, and elevated transport layers. The article outlines primary methods for restoring spatial connectivity in various urban contexts – from dense historical districts to coastal and natural areas. These solutions not only reestablish pedestrian links but also create new public spaces, enhancing the quality of the urban environment.

The novelty of the research lies in developing a comprehensive approach to restoring connectivity at different scales (city, district, street), demonstrated through the case study of Vladivostok. The conceptual proposal is based on successful practices of spatial connectivity restoration in Milan and Seattle, where multi-level pedestrian spaces examples were seamlessly integrated into the city’s unified pedestrian framework. The obtained results form a methodological foundation for transforming areas fragmented by transport highways and can be applied in other cities with similar urban conditions.