FUTURE OF THE OBVODNY CANAL — THE MAIN LINE OF THE SAINT PETERSBURG GREY BELT

Abstract

The study looks at the issues of the development of territories in the Obvodny Canal area. These issues, which are of great interest as related to the planned transformation of the Grey Belt, become more aggravated due to the increase in traffic load after the Western High-Speed Diameter (WHSD) opening. A significant decrease in the housing quality and cost of apartments facing embankments is observed, which can be explained by an extremely high level of noise and contamination with exhaust gases. Options for the improvement of environmental conditions, based on the conversion of territories allocated for the canal water area, are proposed. It is being noted that the Obvodny Canal has lost its functional purpose and can be converted as dozens of (nowadays former) canals in the historic center of Saint Petersburg.

Keywords

• Saint Petersburg transport infrastructure
• Obvodny Canal
• ecology of living environment
• Grey Belt