Krosno Odrzańskie is preparing for a flood wave. The minister's appeal and reaction regarding transit hampering preparations

Krosno Odrzańskie is located on the Odra and Bóbr rivers in the Lubusz Voivodeship.

– We are happy that we are in such a picturesque place, but in the current situation, it is a nightmare. The water from the Bóbr is already reaching its peak. It flows into the Oder behind the city. Let's hope it flows before the biggest water comes from the south. For now, everything indicates that these two waves will not accumulate – said Grzegorz Garczyński, the mayor of Kostrzyn, on Thursday. The city has already been flooded twice, in 1997 and 2010.

The water in the Oder is gradually rising and has already reached alarm level. – The highest water is supposed to be from Monday to Tuesday. It could be five and a half meters. We are preparing for the worst. We are following the reports, but they sound very bad to us. In Wrocław, lower water was expected, but it is higher – said the mayor.

That is why preparations are underway in Krosno Odrzańskie, just like in other cities. For the first time, it was decided to erect so-called sheet pile walls. Soldiers of the Territorial Defense Forces are helping to assemble them. – We are gradually building these walls. This is already the third stage of the works. We have quite a few of these walls around the lower city. The entire embankment is 2,700 meters long. We also have such structures on the Odra front – enumerates Garczyński and adds: this will be our baptism by fire.

The authorities of Krosno Odrzańskie point out that a major problem in preparations for the coming flood wave is the traffic jams in the city caused by the renovation of the bridge on the Oder. This is an investment by Wody Polskie. In connection with these works, alternating traffic was introduced on the bridge on September 2, which causes major traffic jams in the city. Now, when trucks with sand, transports with walls and services pass through the crossing, it is particularly inconvenient.

That is why the mayor sent a letter to the director of the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways, in which he asks for the suspension of transit traffic. He also appealed to the central authorities to react. – I know that there was an intervention of the governor during the nationwide crisis team, but we need a decision here and now. Transit must disappear, because it makes our lives difficult, and the worst is ahead of us. We do not know what will happen – adds Garczyński.

The Minister of Infrastructure at the evening crisis headquarters in Wrocław Darius Klimczak said that the situation in Krosno Odrzańskie “is dynamic”.

– There is the placing of bags, the protection of one's own city. And the transit that operates in this city is a hindrance – this is what the mayor pointed out – he said.

As the minister assessed, “we reacted immediately”. – Today at (editor's note) 11 p.m. traffic will be redirected – he informed after 9 p.m.

Klimczak thanked the police and local government representatives for their “lightning-fast arrangements”. – Those who work to save Krosno Odrzańskie will have it easier, because this transit will not cause any traffic jams. And this traffic should be fluid, it must be fluid, so that supplies of sand, bags or any other necessities are ensured – he assessed.