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This week, the Interior Ministry confirmed that it complied with the Panevėžys municipality’s request: 1.25 million LTL is allocated for the reconstruction of the intersection in the industrial part of the city. EU funds. According to Tomas Jukna, director of the municipal administration, although the main argument for requesting financing was the improvement of communication with the free economic zone (EPZ) at the end of J. Janonio street, the reconstruction of the crossing is inevitably necessary for everything the industrial district.
“This crossroads is of interest not only to FEZ, but also to other companies. This is a very important transportation hub, knowing that the industry is developing very fast in this part of the city,” said T. Jukna.
The flows are growing
The Italian company Etea Group plans to start the construction of the distillery on J. Janonio street already this spring. Ethyl alcohol production in Panevėžys should start in mid-2022. Development is also planned by FEZ. Komex, a manufacturer of protective polyethylene packaging in this area, plans to build and install 18,000 square meters by November 2021. kv. m from the factory premises. Business development in this industrial zone is also planned by Swedish automotive electromechanical systems and wiring harness company AQ Wiring Systems, an electronics manufacturer from Leipzig, Germany, Leesys.
According to T. Jukna, after connecting J. Janonio street with the Panevėžys ring road last year, the traffic in this place has increased significantly, but due to the development of the industry, traffic flows should increase several times more.
“We are already seeing a significant increase in car traffic on the streets of J. Janonis, Pramonės, and the situation is especially difficult during the western peak. Considering the development of the industry, the traffic light intersection would not support loads of future traffic, there would be large traffic jams. The simulation results showed that with the additional increase in traffic intensity, this intersection would be completely blocked, “says the director of administration.
Changes await drivers
The study showed that transforming the intersection of J. Janonis, Pramonės and Vakarinės streets into a roundabout would quadruple vehicle capacity.
According to the director, a tender for the reconstruction of the intersection is planned to be announced in the near future, and actual construction works should start in June or July. They are scheduled to be completed in the next two years.
T. Jukna admits that not only the intersection will change, but also the organization of traffic on J. Janonio Street.
“After the reconstruction of the intersection, the decisions will have to be made in the same street J. Janonio. On category B and C streets, it is not possible to park on the roadside, and there will also be some inconvenience when exiting some areas, but the traffic must adapt to modern requirements by leaving the yards on a right turn and only every 150 m can you turn left ”, said the director of administration.
Entrance blocked
Reconstruction of the intersection of J. Janonis, Pramonės and Vakarinės streets in a roundabout, according to the business located in this industrial area of the city, will facilitate the difficult turn of J. Janonis street to the left. However, company representatives say that they already have difficulties with the signage on J. Janonis Street.
Due to the need to turn the wheels, the discontent of the drivers arose in the fall, when after one night there were two continuous lines that prohibited the drivers from turning the ring of Nemunas street to the left side of the street, where dozens of different business entities were located. They are located in the area marked 3.
According to Andrius Skliusius, head of the Panevėžys division of the Ramirent company operating at this address, the territory at 3 J. Janonio Street can be entered through three entrances: the secondary one is intended for heavy transport and automobiles More smalls. run down the sides. A dotted line is marked on both of the latter, but in the middle, most importantly, two solid lines are left, prohibiting those coming from Nemuno str. ring turn left. According to A. Skliusius, the three entrances to J. Janonio str. In Area 3, roads are just as important.
“We have no choice but to have three tickets. But they explained to us that on newly repaired four-lane streets, such as J. Janonio Street, it is mandatory to follow the 150 m rule when turning left, ”says a company representative.
According to him, the heavy vehicles coming from Nemunas Street now drive practically to Pramonės Street. intersections, turn there, go back and then turn right into the courtyard; small entrances are not suitable for heavy transport.
Everyone is cursing
Only up to J. Janonio st. Territory 3 is visited by several dozen heavy vehicles every day. As employers began to explain the peculiarities of such road marking, it became clear that the dotted lines were simply drawn after taking the street map and deducting it every 150 meters.
“But the fact that the companies operate on J. Janonio Street was completely ignored. They probably still knew Amilina and Vilnius Bread, but did not delve any further. The dotted line is drawn even on the now empty plot, where it is not yet has built a distillery, and at the entrance to our territory, where several companies are active, we see continuous lines. If they were drawn from a logical evaluation of what was happening in a place, it might be possible to reconcile both the traffic rules and the commercial interests, but if, according to the dry drawing, we still have the same situation where some turn around at an intersection, others risk crossing lines, but all the curses “, – A. Skliaustys is surprised.
According to him, such street marking makes it especially difficult for two J. Janonio st. Ramirent rents excavators and forklifts to 3 companies based in Latvia: this equipment is transported on car platforms, as well as cranes with trailers that come to collect scaffolding. Nearby is an excavator repair company, and the car platforms that transport them are forced to cross the street to turn right into the yard.
“For a large machine, it is even more convenient to turn left than right now,” says A. Skliaustys.
Strict requirements
According to Tadas Martinaitis, the communication specialist at the Panevėžys County Chief Police Commissioner, decisions on street marking are not made by the police, but by the Municipal Traffic Commission, which also includes police representatives.
According to T. Martinaitis, lane marking depends on many factors. There should be no dash to the left on all four lanes of the road, unless islands or traffic lights are installed.
Ask for a way out
Sigitas Gailiūnas, director of the Lietkabelis company operating in J. Janonio street and president of the Panevėžys Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, says that practically all companies operating in this street are not satisfied with the continuous lines.
“It just came to our knowledge then. The plans to adjust the street signs by installing a roundabout would greatly complicate the activities of the companies located on J. Janonio Street, both for employees and for customers, partners, deliveries of merchandise, purchase of products. Traffic safety, of course, must be guaranteed, but one or another measure can be taken to achieve this “, says S. Gailiūnas.
According to him, there are already examples in Lithuania where unjustified traffic regulation decisions have been changed, as happened with the green arrows to the right removed and then placed again.
“It is always necessary to follow a healthy logic, look for options that guarantee road safety, but also that are convenient for companies. Now, when turning the wheels on the street, the traffic will be more intense and the accumulation of cars will be several times higher at the turning points. Not good. This is an industrial street and the interests of the company operating here must be taken into account. The municipality must act so that the companies do not have problems, and we, the companies, can also get involved in the search for a solution at the ministry and government level, ”says S. Gailiūnas.
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