The Polish Army Day will once again be celebrated by soldiers with a parade on the capital's Wisłostrada. The ceremony will be preceded by a dress rehearsal on Saturday morning. The organization of both events will involve major changes in traffic organization.
The rehearsals and parade on the occasion of the holiday will require the closure of Wisłostrada – from the Skłodowskiej-Curie Bridge to Gagarina Street. The following will not have connections to Wisłostrada: Trasa AK and the Grota-Roweckiego Bridge, Aleja “Solidarności” and the Śląsko-Dąbrowski Bridge, as well as the Poniatowskiego Bridge. From Czerniakowska Street, drivers will only go to Trasa Łazienkowska towards the city center or to the Łazienkowski Bridge. Four crossings over the Vistula will also be closed. Police officers will direct traffic at many intersections, and signs prohibiting stopping with a plate informing about the possibility of towing the vehicle at the owner's expense will be placed on the surrounding streets. The difficulties will also apply to pedestrians and cyclists. During the rehearsal, as well as the ceremony itself, the police and state services may also close other streets.
Those going to the parade rehearsal and the festivities themselves should remember that on August 14th, the UEFA Super Cup match will be played at the PGE National Stadium. One of the fan zones will be created on the Vistula boulevards by the Świętokrzyski Bridge. Already on August 12th, the Kościuszkowskie Coast from Tamka to Jaracz will be closed.
Preparations at the fountains
Before the dress rehearsal, the stands and media stands will be built. For this reason, on Monday, August 5, the right lane of the Gdańsk Coast, towards Wilanów, was closed – on the section from Sanguszki Street to Boleść. Drivers will pass through this area again on Sunday, August 18.
The sidewalk and bicycle path on the side of the Multimedia Fountain Park as well as the Sanguszki 01 bus stop are also closed.
Changing of the guard at Piłsudski Square
The celebration of Polish Armed Forces Day on Thursday, August 15, will begin at 12:00 with a ceremonial changing of the guard in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. For this reason, from 10:00 to 14:00 drivers will not pass through Piłsudski Square and Królewska Street – between Małachowskiego and Piłsudskiego Squares. Earlier, from 6:00, it will not be possible to park on Królewska Street from Piłsudski Square to Marszałkowska Street. Buses: 111, 116, 128, 175, 178, 180, 503 will travel on detours.
Polish Army Day in Warsaw. Changes and difficultiesInfostreets Warsaw
Rehearsal and parade on Wisłostrada
During the transport of equipment and the parade formation, a section of Pułkowa will be closed, between Wóycickiego Street and the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Bridge. This will be the case on Saturday, August 10, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Wednesday, August 14, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Other traffic changes will be introduced twice: – from Saturday, August 10, from 4:00 p.m. to Sunday, August 11, 11:00 a.m.; – from Wednesday, August 14, from 6:00 p.m. to Thursday, August 15, 6:00 p.m.
During this time, the following streets will be closed: – Wisłostrada (both roadways) from the Skłodowskiej-Curie Bridge to the Łazienkowski Bridge (stopping is prohibited), the roadway of Wisłostrada towards Wilanów from the Łazienkowski Bridge to Gagarina Street; – Gwiaździsta from Podleśna Street to Wisłostrada; -Krasińskiego from Czarnieckiego Street to Wisłostrada (stopping is prohibited, and from Gwiaździsta Street it will only be possible to go towards Wilsona Square); – Krajewskiego from Dymińska Street to Wisłostrada (stopping is prohibited); – Zakroczymska and Jeziorańskiego from Szymanowska to the Katyn Museum (stopping is prohibited); – Wenedów from Zakroczymska Street to Wisłostrada (stopping is prohibited); – Sanguszki from Zakroczymska Street to Wisłostrada (stopping is prohibited); – Mostowa and Boleść from Freta to Wisłostrada (stopping is prohibited); – Grodzka and Nowy Zjazd from “Solidarności” avenue to Wisłostrada (the car park under the Śląsko-Dąbrowski Bridge will also be closed); – Bednarska from Dobra Street to Wisłostrada (stopping is prohibited); – Karowa from Browarna Street to Wisłostrada (stopping is prohibited); – Lipowa from Browarna Street to Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie Street (stopping is prohibited); – Dobra from Karowa Street to Lipowa Street (stopping is prohibited); – Wiślana and Gęsta from Browarna Street to Dobra (stopping is prohibited); – Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie between the Wisłostrada tunnel and Jaracza Street (stopping is prohibited); – Zajęcza from the Świętokrzyski Bridge to Dobra Street (stopping is prohibited); – Tamka from Dobra Street to the Świętokrzyski Bridge (stopping is prohibited); – Ludna from Solec Street to Wisłostrada; – Wilanowska from Czerniakowska Street to Wisłostrada; – Górnośląska from Czerniakowska Street to Wisłostrada; = Łazienkowska, Szwoleżerów, 29 Listopada, Suligowskiego, Nowosielecka and Hołówki in front of Wisłostrada.
The detours will lead along Modlińska and Jagiellońska streets, and then along the Hel Coast, Szczecin Coast and Wał Miedzeszyński. On the left bank of the Vistula, drivers coming from Łomianki will be directed to Marymoncka Street. Then they will go along Słowackiego, Mickiewicza, Andersa and Marszałkowska streets.
Closed bridges
During the test and the parade itself, drivers will not drive across the Świętokrzyski Bridge. Additionally, during the test flight of the aircraft, on Saturday, August 10, between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m., the Gdański and Śląsko-Dąbrowski Bridges will be closed. Due to weather conditions, the test may be postponed until Sunday, August 11. Both bridges will be closed during the same hours on August 15.
Difficulties for pedestrians and cyclists
Pedestrians and cyclists will also face difficulties. During the rehearsal of the parade and the ceremony, the latter will not be able to use the bike paths along Wisłostrada – on the section from Krasiński Street to Śląsko-Dąbrowski Bridge.
Pedestrian crossings and bicycle crossings will also be closed at the junction of Krasińskiego Street with Wisłostrada. It will also be impossible to cycle across Wisłostrada at the height of Wenedów, Ludna and Łazienkowska streets.
Additionally, on Saturday from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. and on August 15 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., the pedestrian and bicycle bridge will be closed. On Sunday from 3:00 to 11:00 a.m. and on Thursday from 8:00 to 3:00 p.m., the lower level of the Gdański Bridge will be unavailable. On Thursday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., the Śląsko-Dąbrowski Bridge will also be closed to non-motorized vehicles.
Changes in public transport
Closing the streets to traffic, both for the parade rehearsals and the military march itself, will cause changes in the routes of Warsaw Public Transport buses and trams. We encourage you to use the metro and the Fast Urban Rail and Mazovian Railways.
During the closure of traffic on Wisłostrada and nearby streets, the following bus lines will operate on detour routes: 100, 106, 107, 108, 114, 118, 127, 159, 162, 166, 167, 171, 172, 185, 187, 517, N16, N33, N83.
On Saturday, August 10 and Thursday, August 15 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., i.e. during the plane flights and the closure of the Gdański and Śląsko-Dąbrowski bridges, five bus lines will operate: 100, 160, 190, 409 and 500 will change its routes. These lines will not cross the Vistula. Trams will run over the Śląsko-Dąbrowski Bridge (lines: 20, 26, 73, 74, T) and the Gdański Bridge (lines: 6, 28, 70, 71, 74, 78) without stopping. They will not stop at the Wybrzeże Helskie and Most Gdański stops. In the event that tram traffic is also closed (the decision is made by the services), the trams will run on shortened routes.
Additionally, on Sunday from 3:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and on Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., trams and buses will not stop on the Gdański Bridge at the Most Gdański 03 and 04 stops and Wybrzeże Helskie 01, 02, 03 and 04 stops.
Main image source: TVN24