Nikolai Sherstnev: Reconstruction of Gagarin Street in Vitebsk will be carried out around the clock
The large-scale reconstruction of Gagarin Street has been underway since the end of July last year. The standard period for completion of work is more than 20 months, but the work is ahead of schedule by a whole year. The Regional Executive Committee has undertaken to complete the facility by the current anniversary, the thirtieth, "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" arts festival.
"We have undertaken to carry out this project within a year and must remain true to our promises. The main work has already been completed. The biggest difficulties arose with the relocation of networks (sewerage, electricity and gas supply, outdoor lighting, traffic light control, etc.) and the impossibility of creating a bypass road and rerouting traffic along another line. Therefore, we had to relocate the networks in parts and direct traffic along the repaired sections. In winter, we lost about a month and a half due to frost: we could not lay cables according to the standards. Now the reconstruction has entered the final stage. And we have decided that work on Gagarin Street will be carried out around the clock to complete the remaining work in two months," said the head of the region.
Nikolai Sherstnev added that Gagarin Street will be a modern avenue and may be renamed as such. New contactless trolleybuses will run here instead of trams, and the roadway will have three lanes in each direction. The second stage will also include the improvement of residential buildings and educational and healthcare institutions. "We will try to modernize the street and possibly rename it an avenue. To do this, we will need to put the housing complex in order. The street was built in the 1950s, the buildings are already outdated, they need current and major repairs, and some need to be demolished. Therefore, a separate improvement program will be developed," he said.
The Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee emphasized that the republican funds saved from the reconstruction of Gagarin Street, with the approval of the President, can be directed to new city facilities. "After the completion of the reconstruction of Gagarin Street, we will ask the President for permission to start another major street reconstruction project in Vitebsk with the saved money," said Nikolai Sherstnev.