Zielona Krucza is getting closer. To this end, the Warsaw Road Authority has announced a tender for construction works. This is to take place in the first half of 2026, provided that funding is obtained from the city budget. This large-scale investment involves transforming the currently wide thoroughfare into a more intimate space with a large amount of greenery. Such significant changes have not gone unnoticed, of course, and have been causing controversy among residents and councillors for months.
Green Krucza Street – residents’ disputes and expectations
The discussion about the changes on Krucza Street is very intense. Some are in favour of maintaining the current layout, while others are calling for reduced car traffic, more greenery, more comfortable pavements and improved conditions for cyclists. During meetings concerning the planned investment, there were also calls to completely abandon parking spaces. A motion was also submitted to enter the street’s urban layout in the register of monuments, which could halt the redevelopment.
The great ZDM project
However, the City Road Authority remains adamant. It has already obtained a redevelopment project and a decision to approve the new road layout. A request to secure funds in the city budget is currently being prepared. The tender for the selection of a contractor could be announced in the second quarter, and the works would start this year and continue into the next. ZDM Director Łukasz Puchalski met with residents to discuss the details of the entire project. Parking issues are still being analysed, including a proposal to allocate approximately 30 per cent of parking spaces exclusively to local residents, and a straight crossing at the intersections with Nowogrodzka and Hoża Streets. The final traffic organisation will be further refined.
A wide thoroughfare from the 1950s and a new concept for greenery
The current cross-section of Krucza Street dates back to the 1950s. At that time, it was given the status of the main axis of the socialist realist central district, which translated into a width of 30-40 metres. The four- and five-lane carriageway takes up a significant part of the space, and cars park in bays and partly on pavements. After the reconstruction of the so-called Five Corners Square, the traffic intensity in this part of the city centre has changed, which, according to road engineers, opens up the possibility of a different use of such a vast space. The leading element of the project is a pedestrian green belt between the carriageways, a solution rarely seen in this part of the city. This layout was determined by the location of the underground infrastructure, including water and heating mains. The areas free of networks are located in the axis of the street, which allows for the introduction of regular rows of trees without interfering with the existing installations. Two rows of new plantings will appear on Krucza Street, and the existing tree stand will be preserved. The nearest larger green areas are about a kilometre away, which is why the designers propose a form similar to a linear park.
Green Krucza for safety and comfort
According to ZDM data, the current layout of Krucza Street has contributed to dangerous situations. In recent years, 10 accidents and numerous collisions have been reported there. The wide carriageway and several lanes encourage higher speeds, which has a negative impact on pedestrian safety. After the reconstruction, the street will function as a local road with calmed traffic. Cyclists will travel on the carriageway, in accordance with urban standards for such zones, so no separate cycle lanes have been designated. In the opinion of ZDM, Krucza Street does not serve as a key north-south transport corridor, so its future organisation is intended to primarily benefit residents and users of local services.
Source:ZDM inWarsaw
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