Monaco’s ambitious plan to modernise its network of mechanical links is pressing ahead, with a clear horizon set for 2030, Monaco-Matin reports. By the end of this year, 65 of the roughly 140 elevators, escalators, moving walkways and PRM lifts scattered across the Principality will have been replaced. The scheme, launched in 2019 and implemented from 2020, is designed to prevent a future where the city relies on outdated equipment.
The Urban Planning Department has identified 90 devices as eligible for either full renewal or significant upgrades, focusing on reliability and reducing downtime. Many of these machines can run for over two decades, but evolving technology and the availability of spare parts have made proactive replacements essential. Without intervention, by 2030 three-quarters of the network would have been operating beyond the 20-year mark, risking prolonged outages due to hard-to-find components.
The next phase of the project, starting in 2026, will target key connections. Elevators linking Boulevard de Belgique with the Sainte-Dévote train station access, and the escalators feeding the Prince Pierre gallery, will undergo replacement. Plans also include addressing the elevators connecting Avenue Crovetto Frères to Avenue Prince Pierre, where a new footbridge is proposed to simplify access.
Between 2026 and 2030, 30 further devices will be renewed, including strategic links like the Hector-Otto elevator to Boulevard du Jardin Exotique, where no alternative routes exist. Studies are also under way to explore new mechanical connections in currently underserved districts, aiming to make Monaco’s steep terrain more accessible for all.
