Drone Highway Designed for Shenzhen

(Tetra Architects & Partners and Avoid Obvious)

The idea of manned drones is not a novelty. But imagine a city with a growing number of manned air vehicles above your head. How can we organize a perfect traffic for drones? Maybe the first drone highway, designed by Tetra Architects & Planners and Avoid Obvious Architects, shows the way ahead? Traditional highways are outdated and not efficient state the architects.

Invited to redesign the 30 kilometers long highway G107 with its four lanes plus its surrounding area in Bao’an, Shenzhen, the designers presented their vision for the future of the 21st century. This sustainable and technology oriented approach is a bold step for Shenzhen instead of a boring rehabilitation concept.

Among other things, drones and self-driving vehicles are an essential component for Shenzhen’s new urban development. Instead of expanding the existing 12-lane highway, a smaller, more fluid thoroughfare with multiple layers shall be part of an organic smart city in the heart of the Pearl River Delta.

The envisaged highway will have two 4-lanes with sections at grade, above grade and below grade instead of 12 lanes at grade. The drone highway with its drones port is the most impressive and, indeed, most dared part of the released concept. But maybe not that unrealistic. A manned drone, such as EHang 184, is already existing.

Furthermore, the architects state:
We borrowed design principles from nature. The new G107 will weave vertically and horizontally throughout its 30km length and create spaces for greenery and public amenities. Elevated green platforms will also weave through buildings on both sides of G107 to provide pedestrian access to transit. Multimodal transit hub will be employed at all intersection to make all parts of the city reachable within 15mins.