A footbridge leading to the Warsaw Citadel is being built in Fosa Park in Żoliborz. The steel footbridge, approximately 80 metres long, is intended to make it easier for residents to access the museums, but the project has been the subject of protests for months. The dispute centres on the felling of trees, interference with the park, future traffic flows and the way in which consultations with residents have been conducted.
Footbridge in Żoliborz over the moat
The new footbridge will be approximately 80 metres long and 3.5 metres wide. It will run from Wojska Polskiego Avenue through Fosa Park and over the former moat of the Citadel, creating a new entrance to the fortress grounds. The structure was designed by the Warsaw-based architectural practice WXCA, led by architect Szczepan Wroński. It is WXCA that is also responsible for the buildings of the Polish Army Museum and the Museum of Polish History at the Citadel. The footbridge is to have a lightweight steel structure, with elements finished in the characteristic colours of Corten steel, whose rusty surface is intended to blend well with the historic surroundings. The footbridge will rest on supports anchored in the bottom of the moat.
The idea is over 100 years old
The idea of opening up the Citadel to Żoliborz already featured in urban planning concepts from the interwar period. Antoni Jawornicki and Józef Jankowski designed Żoliborz with its main axes leading towards the Citadel. Aleja Wojska Polskiego was intended to reach the fortress grounds and form a ceremonial complex commemorating Poland’s regaining of independence. After the Second World War, this concept was not realised, and the Citadel remained a closed military site for decades. The idea was revisited during preparations for the construction of a large museum complex. The current development concept for this area was selected in a 2009 competition, whilst the idea of the footbridge itself had been appearing in investment documents since around 2006.
Footbridge in Żoliborz – total cost of 46.5 million zł
The investor is the Polish Army Museum, which falls under the Ministry of National Defence. ZAB-BUD is responsible for the construction of the footbridge; the site was handed over to the company on 1 July 2025. The total value of the contract is approximately 46.5 million zł gross. The footbridge itself will cost a maximum of around 7.2 million PLN. The remaining amount relates primarily to work on the historic casemates, technical infrastructure and site development. The entire project is due to be completed in 2027.
Why are residents saying ‘no’?
The greatest controversy centres on Fosa Park, through which the footbridge will run. Residents of Żoliborz Oficerski fear the felling of trees and the transformation of this peaceful recreational area into a busy pedestrian route. Among the arguments put forward by opponents of the project is the figure of 45 trees earmarked for removal. Critics of the project also highlight the footbridge’s location near a clearing and a children’s playground. They fear that once the new entrance to the Citadel opens, far more people will pass through the park, particularly once the full museum complex is operational. Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of neighbouring buildings and the impact of the works on the Citadel’s historic underground passages. In autumn 2024, the ‘Miasto Jest Nasze’ association launched a campaign against the project. At the time, over 4,500 signatures were collected in support of an open letter.
Museum: footbridge will open up the Citadel to Żoliborz
The Polish Army Museum presents the project as a key element in opening up the former fortress to local residents. Gen. Prof. Bogusław Pacek, Director of the Polish Army Museum, emphasised that the new route is intended to create the shortest and most intuitive access from Żoliborz to the museums and the Citadel grounds. During a meeting with residents in 2025, he also explained that the decision to build had been taken many years earlier and was no longer at the site-selection stage. At that point, the project had a planning permission, secured funding and a selected contractor. The meeting took place in a very tense atmosphere. The protesters demanded that the work be halted, whilst representatives of the museum argued that it would be very difficult to withdraw from the signed contract. The dispute therefore concerns not so much the need to open the Citadel itself, but rather whether it is worth doing so via Fosa Park and in this form. However, the protests and petitions have been to no avail – construction is continuing and it does not look as though anything is going to stop it.
Source: gazetazoliborza.pl, informator-stolicy.pl, tustolica.pl
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