An ambitious green corridor project that addresses social, environmental and mobility dimensions

The Carrera Séptima Corridor Project has obtained an Envision Silver Award in recognition of the project’s multiple sustainable infrastructure achievements. It will enhance connectivity and promote active transportation by transforming public space along this key artery in Bogotá, Colombia into a more resilient, sustainable, and livable urban environment.

Corredor Verde Carrera Séptima Calle 99-127, as the project is officially known, focuses on a major north-south thoroughfare that is also known by residents Avenida Carrera 7 or “La Séptima” — specifically the section between 99th and 127th Streets. The project contributes to urban renewal by prioritizing sustainable modes of transportation such as walking, bicycling and public transportation. It will advance decarbonization efforts and support climate change mitigation and adaptation processes while maintaining harmony with nature.

The intention with this project is to create an ecotone between Bogotá’s urban ecosystem and the Andean forest ecosystem — the “Cerros Orientales” or Eastern Hills that form the eastern natural boundary of Colombia’s capital. One of the primary objectives is to develop an ecological connection between the city’s east and west for species that travel from the hills to the savannah of the capital. A more connected environment will support the inclusion of native species and foster greater biodiversity and species richness throughout the project area.

Through a design that integrates green infrastructure and sustainability strategies, the project improves the quality and functionality of the public space without affecting its accessibility or reducing services. The project will strengthen the urban canopy, promote biodiversity by protecting native species, and optimize stormwater management with Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS).

Quotes

“At Indugravas, we are proud to have helped bring sustainability to life in such an emblematic project as the Carrera Séptima Corridor,” said Alejandra Vargas, Lead ENV SP at Indugravas. “Achieving the Envision Award validates our commitment to building infrastructure that not only transforms the city but also protects biodiversity, promotes sustainable mobility, and places communities at the heart of the design. For over 70 years, Indugravas has contributed to the development of road infrastructure in Bogotá and Colombia, closely supporting projects led by the Urban Development Institute (IDU). Being part of the first Envision-certified project in the country reinforces our purpose as a company — to help shape a more inclusive, resilient, and environmentally responsible future.”

Anthony Kane, ISI’s President & CEO, highlighted this project in his remarks at the Construverde Conference in Bogota, Colombia, July 30–31, 2025. “Congratulations to Carrera Séptima Corridor Project, the first Envision-awarded project in Colombia and only the second in Latin America. The project provides an example for other project teams working to make public space and its supporting infrastructure more resilient and sustainable, and it exemplifies the strong engagement with ISI’s framework and the ENV SP credential that we are witnessing across the region.”

About Envision

Envision was designed to promote more sustainable, resilient, and equitable infrastructure projects. It is comprised of 64 sustainability and resiliency indicators (called credits) which are organized within five categories: Quality of Life, Leadership, Resource Allocation, Natural World, and Climate and Resilience. Together, the categories and credits address materials, energy, conservation, community development, planning, collaboration, human well-being, mobility, and more. Achieving an Envision Award for Carrera Séptima Corridor highlights and validates the project team’s exceptional commitment to sustainable infrastructure. The award is based on an independent peer-review process conducted and overseen by ISI. A short summary of the project’s verified achievements follows.

Verified Sustainability Achievements

Quality of Life, Liveability and Safety – The lighting, public space improvements, and continuous bike path along the corridor combine to create a more attractive and welcoming urban environment. Its features were developed in collaboration with the community through prior roundtable discussions during the design stage. The revitalized corridor will promote safety and security and invite communities to take ownership of the space and participate in it. The Carrera Séptima Corridor is also known for its historical significance and cultural vibrancy, so in keeping with the identity of the artery, the project adds meeting points for cultural and community activities, promoting social cohesion.

Leadership and collaboration – As noted previously, the project conducted roundtable discussions early on. The feedback obtained was evaluated, and in some cases, changes to the design were made based on these observations. The project team demonstrated that road infrastructure projects need not be ‘business as usual’-type projects but rather they can be sustainable across several dimensions. Likewise, being pioneers with this verification allows the owner and the project team to set expectations that other projects currently engaged in the shift toward a more sustainable future for the sector can follow.

Enhancing Sustainable Modes of Transportation – Serving as a mobility connector, the project will connect new public transportation lines along the avenue and enable integration with the city’s master plan. The Carrera Séptima Corridor has been designed to improve south-north traffic flow and bridge the towns of Suba and Usaquén to the west and east of the city using transit. The project improves accessibility by adding pedestrian walkways as well as a network of bicycle paths and bicycle parking along the corridor, reducing dependence on the automobile.

Strengthening Natural World Connections – The project introduces large green areas to a busy urban thoroughfare — reducing air pollution and creating recreational spaces. Nature-based solutions will be prioritized to increase the project’s resilience to future impacts of climate change. The corridor also includes environmental awareness and education programs, engaging the community in the protection and preservation of the natural environment. As an example, through the landscaping design, the project uses plant species and colors in the concrete to highlight areas of local importance and views of the Cerros Orientales.

Functional Habitats – The project team identified existing habitat types and ecosystem functions and implemented strategies to strengthen them, including urban canopy, biodiversity islands, and the use of native species. Negative impacts will be offset or minimized by measures that include increasing green areas post-construction. These strategies will be monitored through indicators that make it possible to assess whether habitat quality is being improved — and habitat quantity increased — and whether species movement between habitats is being facilitated.