The final works are underway to give the residents of Warsaw the first woonerf in the city centre. Bracka Street has been given greenery, the number of parking spaces has been reduced, benches have been placed and the surface has been prepared with pedestrians and cyclists in mind.
This is another part of Warsaw that is undergoing a green revolution. Located at the back of the former Smyk, Bracka Street is being transformed into a pedestrian and cycle-friendly woonerf. So far, we have mostly reported on woonerfs in Łódź. No wonder, as Łódź is the city with the largest number of such streets today. Woonerfs are understood to be streets where car traffic moves at a reduced speed and pedestrians and cyclists have more space. Woonerfs resemble pedestrian zones where cars can move, but slowly.
Previously, other places in Warsaw had arranged their streets in such a way that priority was given to pedestrians (Mysia Street, Haberbusch Street and Schielego Street near Browary Warszawskie), but Bracka Street is the first in the centre. In total, a section of 150 m is covered by the change. Greenery has appeared on the section from Jerozolimskie Avenue to the so-called Five Corners Square.
Until recently, Bracka Street acted as a car park. It was a dead-end street that was densely packed with cars on both sides. This state of affairs has been changed by the Public Land Management.
The metamorphosis cost PLN 4.6 million. The final works are currently underway and the official opening of the woonerf will take place in a few days. Along the street, 38 trees have been planted. Among them are various species – plane trees, cherry trees, maple trees and cherry trees. Shrubs and perennials have also decorated the greenery. Benches are a novelty. Bracka Street invites you to stay for longer.
At the same time, the metamorphosis of Chmielna Street is underway. The contractor definitely has more work to do here. The investment is delayed, but when it is finished, the inhabitants will have an attractive green space, connecting with the “five corners square” and Bracka Street. This is the next stage of the so-called New Warsaw Centre project. We wrote more about this project HERE. As part of this project, the tunnel under Marszałkowska Street will disappear. The crossing was recently closed, we wrote more about it HERE.
source: UM Warszawa
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The first photo shows Bracka Street in 2021:
