Warsaw is entering another important stage of the New Warsaw Centre project. The Central Square is being built in front of the Palace of Culture and Science, and Warsaw road engineers are preparing to rebuild the quarter of Złota and Zgoda Streets. A key element of this transformation – the tunnel under Marszałkowska Street – has been closed and will eventually be decommissioned. The site has been an integral part of the city’s infrastructure for half a century. In its place, a pedestrian crossing will be created to connect the two developments.
On the night of 28-29 June 2024, the exit to the tunnel from Marszałkowska Street and on Złota Street was closed. Although traffic on Zlota Street – along the tunnel – is proceeding without major changes, and the two carriageways and the exit to the right onto Marszalkowska Street remain open, the tunnel itself has become history.
The tunnel under Marszałkowska Street. Photo by Cybularny, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The decision to build the tunnel was taken in the 1960s. The main aim of the project was to reduce traffic jams and improve traffic flow in the centre of Warsaw. The project envisaged the creation of a passage running under Marszałkowska Street, from Złota Street to Plac Defilad.
Initial design work began in the 1960s, with a team of engineers who had to take into account geological conditions and the existing urban infrastructure. Construction of the tunnel began in the early 1970s. The process included earth excavation, construction of retaining walls and the installation of support structures. The installation of ventilation systems, lighting and drainage were crucial for the safety and operation of the project. The walls were lined with bright tiles and the carriageway with cobblestones.
The structure was completed and put into use in the first half of the 1970s. Its opening was an important event, symbolising the technological progress and development of Warsaw’s infrastructure. For decades, the tunnel was an important element of the city’s infrastructure, facilitating passage through the city centre and contributing to the reduction of traffic jams in the area. After years of serving road builders, the structure was in poor technical condition and did not meet modern standards. In addition, it was unattractive for pedestrian traffic. The decision was therefore taken to decommission it.
The tunnel will not simply be buried. The plan is that some of its elements will be demolished and the rest will be poured with concrete to ensure that the Marszałkowska crossing is fully safe. In addition, road workers will rebuild the large transformer station located in the middle. The new space, created after the removal of the exit, will be enriched with pavements and greenery, harmonising with the Central Square under construction and the quarter of Złota and Zgoda streets. The two developments will be linked by an overground pedestrian crossing in the axis of Zlota Street.
View from Złota Street of the Palace of Culture and Science – present and future. Photo: Warsaw City Hall and Cybularny, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Simultaneously with the closure of the tunnel, work on the reconstruction of Zlota and Zgoda Streets begins. The tender for the project was won by Skanska, which will rebuild 2.5 hectares of streets and squares for more than PLN 49 million. The changes will also include Sienkiewicza Street, a large section of Jasna Street and the squares in between, including in front of the ‘Dom pod Orłami’. The new urban space will gain hundreds of new trees, squares with low greenery and decorative fountains. Three large urban squares will be created and the surface will be replaced with aesthetically pleasing and high-quality materials.
The closure of the tunnel under Marszałkowska Street is an important step towards realising the vision of the New Centre of Warsaw. Work on this project aims not only to improve the functionality of the city, but also to increase the aesthetics and living comfort of its inhabitants.
Source: um.warszawa.pl
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