Prince Albert has officially inaugurated the new Parking Salines, a giant parking lot at the entrance of Monaco that is designed to help reduce the number of vehicles on the Principality’s roads by as many as 4,000 every working day.
Prince Albert unveiled the Parking Salines plaque on Monday 15th April and officially opened the parking lot during a ceremony attended by Minister of State Pierre Dartout, National Council President Thomas Brezzo and Minister of Equipment, Environment and Urbanism Céline Caron-Dagioni, as well as local media.
The impressive site, strategically located at the top of Jardin Exotique neighbourhood and near Monaco’s border with France, took seven years and €208 million to build. With its park and ride facilities, Parking Salines is expected to bring the number of vehicles that enter the Principality each working day down by 4,000.
The enormous structure comprises 15 levels and has a capacity of 1,790 parking spaces, as well as 100 dedicated Monaco ON electric charging stations. Around 100 places have been specifically reserved for residents.
The Salines complex also features amenities such as two bike stations, 100 spaces for motorcycles, a state-of-the-art car wash area and 20 spaces for coaches.
Park and ride
The parking facility is an important part of Monaco’s Mobility Plan, unveiled in February, which aims to revolutionise the city’s transportation landscape by reducing traffic congestion and promoting eco-friendly modes of travel.
Central to the plan is park and ride facilities such as this, which offers affordable parking and two express bus lines that provide easy connectivity between the parking lot and key districts within the Principality.
The buses will run every 10 minutes between 7am and 7pm, from Monday to Friday, with one bus every five minutes during rush hours.
Pedestrian access
The Salines Gallery (Galerie des Salines), decorated with art works by Roger Capron, will be accessible from Level -15 of the car park and provide access to Avenue Pasteur and the new Princess Grace Hospital.
By this summer, the ‘Württemberg’ footbridge will be put into service and provide direct access to Avenue de Fontvieille. In 2025, it will be continued by the ‘Fontvieille’ footbridge, which will expand pedestrian access to the new Ilot Pasteur district.
See more: Monaco addresses its transport issues: A green pedestrian corridor from north to south
The journey time to reach Fontvieille from the Jardin Exotique via the Galerie des Salines and the footbridges will be approximately 10 minutes.
Monabike faclities
There are two bicycle stations located at -1 and -15 of the Parking des Salines, offering secure parking and charging for a total of 63 electric bicycles.
Reduced parking rates
Monthly packages are priced at €51, which is around half the price of other car parks in the Principality and includes free bus travel. Meanwhile, daily rates are available for €11 for a full day of parking.
In addition to cross-border workers, the new parking facility will also prove useful for visitors wishing to enter Monaco during popular events like the Monaco Grand Prix and Monaco Yacht Show.
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Main photo: Prince Albert II of Monaco unveiled the inaugural plaque for the Parking des Salines, alongside Pierre Dartout, Minister of State, Céline Caron-Dagioni, Minister of Equipment, Environment and Urban Planning, and Thomas Brezzo, President of the National Council. Photo credit: Manuel Vitali, Government Communication Department