Let's go to Gagarin... Answers to questions from Vitebsk residents received during the "Big Conversation with the President"

In her letter, she expresses dissatisfaction with the street's improvement along its entire six kilometers. She writes that motorists do not observe the speed limit, run red lights, park "as they please," and the traffic police do not monitor their compliance with traffic rules. The woman is also unhappy with the quality of the asphalt pavement, sidewalks, lack of greenery, and the fact that the street is not cleaned. Separately, she criticized the area in front of OJSC "Znamya Industrializatsii," which, according to her, has turned into a parking lot and a mini-market where unauthorized trading from the ground or from cars takes place.

We visited the street named after the legendary cosmonaut a few days after the city-wide cleanup day. The piles of leaves on both sides of the roadway, prepared for removal by the relevant services, testified to the recent large-scale cleaning.

Under the windows of building No. 28, there are several "pyramids" of leaves. The entire adjacent lawn is littered with cigarette butts, which, one can assume, residents throw directly from their windows. There is also other garbage, which, naturally, no one else has thrown here... The locals themselves have made an effort, who, no doubt, also advocate for cleanliness and order. Only if they didn't litter, there would be no need to clean up...

For example, the territory around the college of light industry gave the impression that people do not litter here. No last year's leaves, branches, let alone garbage. And this applies to the entire adjacent territory – all the way to the tram tracks.

In her address, a resident of Gagarin Street also expressed indignation at the lack of greenery: "The old trees were cut down, and new ones were not planted." In response, the city housing and communal services reported that 1200 trees are planned for planting in the Gagarin Street area this year. It is thought that the participation of local residents in such a noble cause as greening their neighborhood would also be appropriate. Indeed, there are many traces of the removal of trees that have become unusable along the road. In some places, their remains lie around, for example, behind the bus stop opposite OJSC "Znamya Industrializatsii".

As for the traffic situation on Gagarin Street, according to the State Automobile Inspectorate of the Department of Internal Affairs of the Regional Executive Committee, traffic police patrols are deployed there daily in all three shifts. Also, on weekdays, during the most active movement of children, traffic police officers are on duty near educational institutions. This year, the "Filter" operation was carried out to identify drunk drivers, and other preventive measures were taken to prevent road accidents. In total, over fifty violations were detected on Gagarin Street and its adjacent areas in the first three months of the current year.

Naturally, it is impossible to draw objective conclusions about the traffic situation offhand. During our trip along Gagarin Street, no one drove through a red light, but pedestrians did not always cross the roadway at the specially designated crosswalk. Signs limiting the speed to 40 kilometers per hour are installed there. We asked around and found out that drivers are also dissatisfied with the situation on this road.

— You know, it's unlikely that it's possible to drive faster than 40 kilometers per hour here, — a driver expressed his opinion, implying that potholes in the asphalt would not allow for speeding. — I drive here to work every day to the end of the street. I also see traffic police officers on duty. In general, the street is narrow, with problems with road markings, — says the man.

— Indeed, a very narrow road. There are signs, of course, but the markings... I once even drove into the oncoming lane, — a woman joined the conversation. — Every time I turn onto this street, I feel tense. Or another situation. If public transport stops in front of you near the "Euroopt" store to drop off passengers, then traffic in that direction is completely paralyzed.

Regarding parking. Several parking zones are organized along the street — near retail outlets and organizations. The parking lot near the Forensic Examination Committee can be called ideal (like the entire territory around the building). A small parking lot is also equipped near building No. 28, which houses small shops on the ground floor. There is a large parking lot near building No. 24, where various car service organizations are located. Several cars are "hiding" between buildings No. 8 and 10, one of them is located right on the lawn.

However, we did not find any unauthorized trade near "Znamya Industrializatsii". The solid waste collection site, located right by the walls of the enterprise and intended for servicing the neighboring residential building, immediately caught our eye. The barrels are overflowing, and there is trash all around.

Sweets and meat products were sold from mobile shops in front of OAO, and according to the city executive committee, there is permission for this. Retail trade is carried out at the specified address based on a lease agreement with SE "Gordormost".

Since 2006, within the framework of the State Investment Program, a large-scale project "Reconstruction of Gagarin Street in Vitebsk" has been financed. Two out of ten construction phases stipulated by the design documentation have been commissioned. Since 2011, financing within the investment program has been suspended, and due to limited funds, it is not possible to further finance the work on the object from the regional budget.

Yes, there isn't always money for grandiose changes, but everyone can do something for their microdistrict — plant a tree or participate in a community clean-up day.