Traffic congestion will cause the old town of Kaunas

After rebuilding, the traffic order will remain unchanged.

When the weather warms up, the road team will return to the streets of Kaunas. This time, the crossing of streets in the old town will be managed, where there are traditionally considerable traffic jams during rush hours.

The municipality of Kaunas signed 3.24 million LTL with the Kauno tiltai company. contract for the value of St. Gertrūdos Street, Šauklių Street. and Jonavos st. roundabout, also called Castle Ring review.

This roundabout is known not only for its heavy load but also for its specific traffic conditions. The traffic in it is a little different than in many intersections of this type, you must pass cars going in some directions when entering the roundabout. This traffic regulation procedure is likely to remain unchanged after the completion of the reconstruction.

“It just came to our knowledge then. In some places an additional traffic lane will be installed, in some places the traffic light regulation will be eliminated. These will be measures that will improve traffic conditions on this section, I will remind you that we are not planning any major changes .

Our idea is to limit traffic in a public place during the summer and do all the necessary work. It is planned to end traffic restrictions in the last week of August, so that everyone can drive without obstacles already in September, “said Delfi Aloyzas Pakalniškis, head of the Department of Urban Management of the city of Kaunas.

The P. Vileišis Bridge will also be closed for repairs.

The representative of the municipality of Kaunas mentioned that the promise to repair the P. Vileišis bridge that connects the old town with the Vilijampolė district. Examinations revealed the need to change the deformation joints of the bridge.

“This is a great opportunity to do the necessary work when the nearby roundabout is repaired,” said A. Pakalniškis.

The Kaunas municipality representative was still unable to answer the question whether or not this transport artery, which is important to the city, will be closed after the repair of the bridge begins.

“We are planning a total or partial closure of the bridge. We will see in which case we earn more. Because by completely stopping traffic on the bridge, all planned work can be done faster. The partial closure slows down the pace of work and the transport capacity is questionable, ”said A. Pakalniškis, head of the Kaunas Municipality City Management Department.

Priority will be given to public transportation.

The municipality of Kaunas promises that after the renovation it will improve communication with public transport; It is planned to install an additional A lane before entering the Šauklių street intersection from Šv. Gertrūdos st. As a result, buses and trolleybuses will no longer have to line up with cars. The Kaunas Castle stop will be much more spacious for public transport and passengers.

The security islands in the roundabout will also be increased. Its function is to avoid dangerous and unauthorized maneuvers of vehicles in the ring.

“Everything is done with a simple purpose: to fundamentally renovate the worn-out infrastructure and, at the same time, increase safety, especially in the busy roundabout and the managed streets next to it”, Martynas Matusevičius, Head of Transportation and Traffic Management Department, it is cited in the Kaunas municipality report.

Distribute sidewalks, rebuild intersections

Pedestrians are promised to provide more convenience: wide sidewalks of St. Gertrūdos street from Šauklių str. all the way to Liberty Avenue.

“The sidewalk will extend to the side of the road from St. Intersection of Gertrūdos and Gimnazijos streets to Laisvės Alley. With the implementation of the changes, foot traffic will be distributed evenly. It will also be a good boost for the companies located on these streets, ”added A. Pakalniškis.

S t. The intersection of Gertrūdos and Šauklių streets: the crosswalk will be moved to a safety island, thus creating a convenient connection for the disabled and cyclists. Until now, the stairs installed just before the crossing have been an obstacle for these road users.

“In addition, innovations are also planned for St. At the intersection of Gertrūdos and Gimnazijos streets: the right turn, towards Karaliaus Mindaugas avenue, will be reduced from two to one traffic lane by installing an unregulated pedestrian crossing. . In both cases, the planned changes will ensure higher performance of the vehicles, “says the Kaunas municipality report.

It is planned to dig a tunnel.

Communication problems between the central part of Kaunas and the Vilijampolė district were originally intended to be solved in the interwar period. It is planned to connect the current Gimnazijos street with Jonavos street through a tunnel.

“The idea of ​​the tunnel was formed around 1930:” already during the construction of the Petras Vileišis bridge over the Neris, the Ministry of Transport and Communications raised the question of a very inconvenient passage between this bridge and the city center, both Con regarding the Neris, as a result of which they are flooded in the spring and the connection with the Petras Vileišis bridge is completely stopped during the floods.

Even then, the Ministry of Transport and Communications was of the opinion that the only rational solution was to build a tunnel right in the direction of this bridge and with an exit to Lukšio (now St. Gertrude’s Street) towards Seimo Street, ”writes Kaunas. University of Technology of Architecture and Urbanism Head of the Research Center, Dr. Vaidas Petrulis.

Soil surveys were carried out, a project was prepared and the estimated cost of the works would exceed one million. LTL. However, this plan was not implemented, although an attempt was made to revive the idea, which had matured in the interwar period, at the end of the Soviet era.