The Siennicki Bridge in Gdańsk was closed because it was in danger of collapse. The city is now stuck in huge traffic jams, so the crisis team is trying to reorganize the traffic. The situation will return to normal in about two years. This is how long the bridge renovation will take.
Let us remind you that Gdańsk has been stuck in huge traffic jams for several days because a key bridge had to be closed due to its technical condition. Research carried out by experts from the Gdańsk University of Technology showed that the bridge abutments are starting to shift, which may cause the structure to collapse.
The Siennicki Bridge was in danger of collapseAdam Warżawa/PAP
The facility was last renovated in 2015. During the work, its structure was strengthened and the surface was replaced. In June 2020, due to problems with the foundations of the abutments dating back to the early 20th century, a speed limit of 30 km/h and a ban on vehicles weighing over 10 tons were introduced.
The current renovation will take approximately two years. The city authorities estimate that it will cost approximately PLN 30 million.
The Siennicki Bridge, next to the cable-stayed bridge and the tunnel under Martwa Wisła, is the only way that residents of the Gdańsk districts: Stogów, Przeróbka and Górki Zachodnie can get to the city center and back. On Monday morning, there were traffic jams on the cable-stayed bridge and in the tunnel under Martwa Wisła. The replacement bus transport that takes residents to the center of Gdańsk had delays of several dozen minutes.
New solutions of the crisis staff
The crisis team met yesterday on this matter. The key topic was unblocking traffic on the Sucharski route and the cable-stayed bridge. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Port of Gdansk Authority, state services, departments and municipal units.
Crisis staff meeting regarding traffic reorganization after the closure of the Siennicki BridgeUMG
– I called on all services to jointly analyze Monday's events and develop effective solutions so that yesterday's situation does not repeat itself. One of them has already been implemented today and involves changing the traffic organization in the area of ul. Towards the Ujście, which improved traffic flow. I expect further, equally effective actions after today's meeting, she emphasized Aleksandra Dulkiewiczmayor of Gdańsk.
She said that one of the solutions, i.e. changing the traffic organization in the area of Ku Ujściu Street, was implemented on Tuesday. The press office reported that it involves eliminating the left turn, i.e. the possibility of direct entry into the premises of the Balticon company for trucks driving from the KOR roundabout. Now the vehicles must continue along Ku Ujściu Street, where they turn back after approximately 1.5 kilometers. They can enter the Balticon area by turning right.
Moreover, the Port of Gdansk Authority (PGA), in cooperation with Balticon and Batic Hub, is implementing a truck notification system. It was reported that a similar solution worked well during the coal crisis. Buffer parking lots will also be fully utilized, where trucks will wait to be admitted to the port.
A decision was also made to extend the working hours of the information point located in the library in Przeróbka at ul. Kryniczna until Friday inclusive.
Main photo source: Adam Warżawa/PAP