Local culture showcased on mobility infrastructure

These bridges, carved into their lanscape, are cultural landmarks   

From the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to the ancient Roman Pont du Gard in France, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, bridges are an integral part of the landscape, and the result of the construction techniques of their time and the style of architecture chosen. The Rion-Antirrion bridges in Greece and the Vasco da Gama bridge in Portugal, both built and operated by VINCI, are notable examples of architectural landmarks that shape the local landscape and even serve as tourist attractions. Indeed, some bridges are designed to be true works of art and tourist attractions, such as the Golden Bridge at Bà Nà in Da Nang, Vietnam, which is suspended and supported by two giant stone hands emerging from the hills. The Boorloo Bridge in Perth, Australia, built by VINCI Construction, is also a bridge that stands out not only for its architectural curves which bring to mind the Wagyl, a rainbow serpent in Whadjuk Noongar culture¹, but also because of the installation of numerous works of Aboriginal art along it. Inaugurated in December 2024² and intended for pedestrians and cyclists, it was designed in collaboration with the Whadjuk Noongar community.

Roads dotted with art and culture 

Along their roads, many countries point out the special features, specialities and must-see tourist sites along the way. These are  famous brown signs on the motorway that show you a cultural digression close to your route.. 

And the roads themselves, without the need to escape for a diversion, can also become exhibition sites, where sculptures and other artistic installations evoke local history, culture and crafts. For example, all along France's motorway network, works of art specifically created for sites are on display, the result of collaboration between local artists and the works' patronOBJ VINCI Autoroutes (VINCI Concessions). These works often reflect the region's heritage and history, through sculpture or an artistic installation. They punctuate and become part of the landscape, marking the road aesthetically and also providing landmarks for both occasional and regular travellers³.

Completed in June 2025, the Te Ahu a Turanga motorway in New Zealand links the towns of Ashhurst and Woodville. The project, completed in particular by VINCI Construction, was carried out in partnership with local Maori communities, encouraging social ties and incorporating indigenous works of art⁴. Two million native trees and plants will also be planted along the route. 

Like many highways operated by VINCI Highways (VINCI Concessions), Via Sumapaz, the highway between Bogotá and Girardot in Colombia, highlights 200 points of interest and nearby attractions - restaurants, activities and natural sites to visit - to encourage travellers to discover the areas served by the network. The initiative has been developed in collaboration with the tourist offices of the regions crossed. A website⁵ has also been set up, as well as a journalism competition to reward the best reports highlighting the region.   

The airports, train stations and underground stations giving a nod to local references  

While train stations and airports are often distinguished by their architecture, like the Grand Paris Express project’s Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station, built in part by VINCI Construction companies, some also incorporate local cultural references.

For example, King's Cross station has appropriated the world of Harry Potter with a sign for platform 9¾ that has become a tourist attraction, and was added to with a trolley built into the wall in 2012. It's the ideal nod to fans and to highlight local literary heritage.

In the network of airports managed by VINCI Airports, which operates more than 70 airports in 14 countries, each building has its own design and identity. Indeed, the ‘sense of place’ concept, at the heart of VINCI Airports' strategy, consists of individualising each of its airports, taking local culture in particular into account.

In Kansai, Japan, the interior design is refined yet at the cutting edge of technology, reflecting the Japanese aesthetic and the country's taste for innovation. In Belgrade, Serbia, art, gastronomy and exhibitions dedicated to iconic figures such as Nikola Tesla allow travellers to immerse themselves in Serbian culture. In Guanacaste, Costa Rica, local crafts and nature are showcased, while in Lyon, France, an exhibition dedicated to the author of TheLittle Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, highlights one of the city's symbols, reflected incidentally in the very name of the airport. A journey through both the air and the arts.

Allowing art and culture in all their forms to be incorporated into infrastructure, particularly mobility infrastructure, gives users an opportunity to appreciate and appropriate places that are often perceived as purely utilitarian. And even to make the locals proud or even attract tourists!

Sources :

¹ Western Australia : « Pont de Boorloo » – https://www.westernaustralia.com/fr/attraction/boorloo-bridge/692e3e74c885d74567941000  

² Perth Now : « Free twilight celebration to mark opening of Boorloo Bridge connecting Victoria Park and Perth CBD » – https://www.perthnow.com.au/wa/perth/free-twilight-celebration-to-mark-opening-of-boorloo-bridge-connecting-victoria-park-and-perth-cbd-c-17153981  

³ VINCI Autoroutes : « Kilomètre-Art » – https://www.vinci-autoroutes.com/fr/decouvertes/kilometre-art/  

⁴ RNZ : « Te Ahu a Turanga: The story behind the art on New Zealand’s newest highway » – https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/564056/te-ahu-a-turanga-the-story-behind-the-art-on-new-zealand-s-newest-highway  

⁵ Via Sumapaz : https://viasumapaz.com/