The car-dominated area of Długie Ogrody Street, Żuławy Gate and Elbląska Street is finally to become a space for people. The city of Gdańsk is floating plans to demolish a massive flyover in the Downtown, greening the street and introducing cultural functions.
The need to expand tourism to more areas of the Downtown has been talked about in Gdańsk for several years. And this is indeed happening, albeit slowly. An example? Seven years ago, Stągiewna Street underwent a revolution, which turned into a promenade and thanks to this it is now teeming with urban life. Łąkowa Street in the Lower Town acquired a new look, and this brought this part of the city closer to the historic center.
Gateway to the city
Now the city announces that long-awaited changes will take place in the area of Długie Ogrody Street, Żuławy Gate and the flyover on Elbląska Street. This is the part of the city that, although important because it is an extension of the Royal Way and Stągiewna Street, also has questionable aesthetics and is clogged by a string of cars. According to the promises of officials, the area of Długie Ogrody Street and the intersection of Elbląska Street is to turn into an attractive, green place, being a „gateway to the city” from the east.
We are preparing a revolution for the public space of Downtown. We are closing the Royal Road. We are doing everything on the basis of social consultations of development programs and specific funds that we intend to allocate for this purpose," announced Piotr Grzelak, deputy mayor of Gdansk.
There are more reasons why the area needs urgent revitalization. After all, Długie Ogrody is closed by the historic Żuławy Gate.
Long Gardens is closed by the historic Żuławy Gate
Photo: Marek Waluszko/ www.gdansk.pl
Today, it's a monument that you can't really see. We want to expose it. Of course, in order to do this we need, after rebuilding the entire interchange, to eliminate the flyover leading from Elblaska Street to Podwale Przedmiejskie ," says Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, mayor of Gdansk.
At Długie Ogrody Street, officials are considering introducing cultural and exhibition functions. They would be built on a city-owned plot of land, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the Żuławy Gate, which, in the case of a cultural investment, would also allow better use and revaluation of this monument. Interestingly, before the destruction of the city in 1945, among other things, cultural activities were conducted at Długie Ogrody, an intimate theater had its headquarters here.
A street on a human scale and cultural functions
Urban activists have long raised the need to demolish the overscaled flyovers and create human-scale streets in their place, with convenient pedestrian crossings. In this regard, downtown Gdańsk leaves much to be desired, although there are the first swallows of change, such as the creation of a crosswalk at the level of the Upland Gate, which turned out to be a hit.
The demolition of the flyover cutting into the fabric of the city is expected to make the street friendly for pedestrians and cyclists as well. Later this year, work will begin on a transportation analysis that will show how the new intersection should be designed after the flyover is demolished. In the middle of 2024, the Directorate of Urban Redevelopment of Gdańsk will begin work on preparing the design of the new intersection.
The flyover leading from Elblaska Street to Podwale Przedmiejskie is to be demolished
Photo: Marek Waluszko/ www.gdansk.pl
But before the city gets down to preparations, city plans will be discussed with residents. These will begin in November, with plans including a study and diagnostic walk, a kick-off seminar, diagnostic and planning workshops.
An election-driven announcement?
Unfortunately, while changes are needed, they will not happen quickly.
These are the next steps we'll be taking, but to do so, we need first and foremost public consultations, meetings with stakeholders and urban planning consultations. Consequently, design and implementation. This is a project calculated for several years," explains the Gdańsk mayor.
In addition, it seems a wasteful measure that before the flyover goes for demolition the city plans to spend money on... its renovation. The reason? Poor technical condition. The work, estimated at about PLN 1 million, is planned to be carried out by the end of June 2024. Looking at these plans, one wonders to what extent the boisterous announcement of a new investment needed in the city is driven by the upcoming local elections in April 2024. On the other hand, the city includes this project in its Development Plans and has secured PLN 70 million for this purpose until 2029. And this gives hope that it will not end with promises after all.
