Has anyone ever wondered where the widest avenue in the world is located? Well, it actually sits in the center of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The street is named Avenida 9 de Julio.
The street was named to honor July 9, 1816, which is Argentina’s Independence Day. It runs for about three kilometers, connecting the busy Retiro district in the north to the Constitución train station in the south. The scale of this road is much larger than other famous streets like 5th Avenue in New York.
The History of the Widest Avenue
The plan for this avenue started in 1888 during the tenure of Mayor Francisco Seeber. A massive road was intended to act as a main artery connecting the north and south of the city. However, the project faced many delays because of legal arguments and money issues.
Construction finally began in 1937 after a national law was passed to allow the work. The first part was only 500 meters long when it opened later that year. To make room for the road, the city carried out a "brutal" demolition of thousands of homes.
More than 60,000 square meters of property were destroyed, and many residents were displaced. One interesting survivor was a house named "Lucy Sol," which was the very last building left standing during a phase of construction in 1970. The entire avenue project was not fully finished until 1980.
How Massive is Avenida 9 de Julio?
This avenue is famous for being the widest in the world, according to the Guinness World Records. It measures a huge 140 meters from one side to the other. Because it is so wide, the road actually takes up the space of an entire city block.
The road usually has 14 to 16 traffic lanes for cars and buses. In the center, a special Metrobus system opened in 2013 to make public travel faster. This bus system serves over 250,000 passengers every single day.
Pedestrians must be very patient when trying to cross all the lanes at street level. Most people need two or three green lights to make it all the way across. It is almost impossible for a normal person to walk the whole width in one go.
Iconic Landmarks
The most famous sight on the avenue is the Obelisk, which stands 67.5 meters high. It was built in only 31 days in 1936 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the city. People gather here for everything from political protests to big football celebrations.
One of the strangest sights is a small house perched on top of a nine-story building. A furniture maker named Rafael Diaz built this "chalet" in 1927 so he could take his afternoon naps. Today, it is used for offices, but the red-tiled roof is still visible from the street.
The Ministry of Public Works building is another key landmark, featuring two giant steel portraits of Eva Perón. On the second floor of this same building, two statues are hidden and known as the Monument to Bribes. These statues were allegedly put there by architect José Hortal to mock the corruption faced during construction.
Other monuments also line the path, such as a sculpture of Don Quixote. There is even a miniature version of the Iguazu Falls at one intersection for people to see. These landmarks make a walk down the avenue feel like a tour of Argentine history.
The avenue continues to change as the city grows and modernizes its infrastructure. New gardens and distinct trees like the Jacarandá have been planted to make the area more beautiful. It remains a central part of life for everyone living in or visiting Buenos Aires.
