The so-called sacred boxes have been disfiguring Polish cities for a long time, which we wrote about in more detail in April this year. They are placed in the middle of the sidewalk in excessive numbers and often stick out of the ground more than necessary. Warsaw decided to combat this and has already installed the first traffic light cabinets that hide in the ground, so they do not spoil the landscape. Warsaw's ZDM shared a recording of such an installation, which was made at Na Rozdrożu Square.
Warsaw hid sacred boxes in the ground
“It might seem that hiding control cabinets underground is nothing simpler. Unfortunately, the reality is, or rather has been so far, completely different. Just a few years ago, this type of solution was much more expensive than a classic ground installation. Apart from the high price, the problem was also ensuring resistance to moisture and flooding – which is crucial for failure-free operation of the devices. Now the price difference has decreased significantly. There are also effective solutions to combat water,” informs ZDM.
Currently, thanks to the development of technology, we will be able to use underground cabinets on a wider scale. The prices offered by manufacturers are acceptable compared to above-ground boxes, and the refined solutions allow to guarantee resistance to moisture and flooding.
– we read further.
This solution was used not only at Na Rozdrożu Square. “Control cabinets hidden in the ground also appeared at the intersection of Branicki and Sarmacka. In the near future, we plan to install such installations at the intersections: Świętokrzyska – Mazowiecka, Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie – Karowa, Ostrobramska – Poligonowa and on Głębocka as part of the construction of a new bus lane,” ZDM reported.
In response to a question from commentators on X, ZDM informed that in the event of a power outage, the box can be pulled out using an emergency hand pump. In addition, the box has already undergone its first “baptism of fire” during the recent downpours. “The installation survived the heaviest rainfall in Warsaw's history without any problems. The traffic lights were still working, and there was no flooding. We then carried out several more checks, day after day, just to be sure” – ZDM replied.
“The box will not collapse under the car. The well complies with the D400 strength class, which is intended for use in road lanes. The load capacity is up to 40 tons” – we find out from the next entry.
Why do sacred boxes disfigure Polish cities?
– The problem lies in coordination and political will. Usually, boxes are created as a result of choosing the simplest and cheapest solution. Such a box should be planned and connected to the installation, which is possible without moving the tangle of cables that we walk over every day – says the landscape architect – Kinga Zinowiec-Cieplik, PhD, landscape architect from the Warsaw University of Technology, told us.