History
From 2018

In 2018, the King Willem-Alexander Tunnel was opened as a replacement for a busy link road off the A2 that ran straight through Maastricht. This has ensured that local residents no longer suffer from traffic jams, poor air quality and noise pollution. On top of the tunnel now meanders the Green Carpet, a wide avenue with trees on both sides that provides extra peace and space.

Green thinking

The Groene Loper is seen as a symbol of Maastricht's transition from 'grey' to 'green' thinking. This is because of the wide pavements on this avenue with a bicycle and pedestrian boulevard in the middle to encourage cycling and walking instead of driving. In addition, most of the flats along the former A2 have been or are being demolished to make way for new homes using wind and solar energy. Work on the development of the Groene Loper will continue until 2026, for example by extending it towards Randwyck.

Disappeared barrier

According to many Maastricht residents, the undergrounding of the motorway removed a barrier that cut the city in two. A third of Maastricht's 120,000 residents lived east of the motorway and never got to the other side. That is changing now that the Green Carpet is there and nice restaurants and cafes are springing up in this area.