Via Al-Sharif

Overview

Al Sharif Street is one of the central arteries of the Benghazi city centre regeneration. The proposal reshapes the street into a calmed, mixed-use corridor that connects key heritage landmarks — including the Lighthouse and the Tomb of Omar Al-Mukhtar — through a continuous sequence of widened sidewalks, planted edges, and shaded public space.

Design intent

• Calm traffic with a narrower carriageway and clearer pedestrian priority.
• Add generous, shaded sidewalks with seating, lighting, and landscape.
• Introduce dedicated cycle lanes and cycle corrals along the corridor.
• Improve pedestrian crossings and street geometry at junctions.
• Preserve sightlines toward the Lighthouse and Tomb of Omar Al-Mukhtar.
• Reinforce commercial frontages with active ground-floor uses.

Cross-section principles

The street is organised around six bands — building edges, sidewalks, landscape, cycles, parking, and the carriageway — sized for comfort and accessibility. Typical sidewalk widths are 2 metres, with 4 metres reserved for the central carriageway and dedicated bands for cycling and street furniture.

Public realm improvements

• Energy-efficient street lighting along the full corridor.
• Shaded seating bays and small cultural gardens at key intersections.
• Green infrastructure to manage stormwater and reduce heat.
• Coordinated paving and street furniture aligned with the City Centre identity.