Reconstruction of Gagarin Street continues in Vitebsk: what has already been done and when the work will be completed
The largest investment project of this year in the region is underway in Vitebsk – the large-scale reconstruction of Gagarin Street.
About 200 people are working on this site – representatives of administrations "UMiSR-140", SU-38 and SU-39 of OAO "Stroitelny trest № 9", Mekhkolonna № 43, DSU-45, Tiraspol PMK, branch № 2 of OAO "Belsvyazstroy", UP "Vitebskgazstroy", Vitebsk Zelenstroy. About 80 units of equipment are involved. Work is carried out without days off for 12 hours a day.
As Dmitry Dukhnov, chief engineer of OSP "UMiSR-140", explained, the frosty winter slowed down the progress of work on replacing engineering networks. After all, frozen ground is unpredictable: one can tear out a piece of pipe or cable along with it, damage, for example, a water supply or a heating main – and the entire microdistrict, where tens of thousands of people live, will be left without heat or water. Therefore, it was necessary to act with jeweler's precision.
However, with the arrival of warm weather, the reconstruction began to gain momentum.
After all, its three phases must be completed according to the schedule by the next International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk".
The main efforts are now focused on replacing utility networks in the fourth and fifth construction phases – from Bathhouse No. 3 to the beginning of Gagarin Street. Heavy machinery is operating here, with piles of gravel and sand...
— We have to relocate large main gas and water pipelines, heating networks, and electrical and sewage systems, — explained Dmitry Anatolyevich. — The utilities are old, laid back in the 1960s-70s. And near this section are large shoe and garment factories, schools, kindergartens, and the regional clinical cardiology center. Therefore, any mistakes must be excluded. By the way, a turning loop will soon appear in the square near Secondary School No. 3 in this area. It was decided that the tram will still run along Lyudnikov Avenue. And to improve the environmental conditions of the district, new treatment facilities will be installed. All storm and rainwater will undergo several stages of purification in them before being discharged into the flood plain of the Vitba River.
Of course, old trees were cut down in the construction zone, which the residents of Gagarin Street regret. But, according to Dmitry Dukhnov, there are more than enough justifications for this decision. The street needed to be widened, and this could not be done without cutting down trees. Many trees were in an emergency condition, literally rotten inside, and their root systems were damaging underground utility systems.
After the completion of construction work, the street will undergo large-scale landscaping. Young trees, shrubs, and lawn grass will be planted here, and flower beds will be laid out. New bus stops and modern kiosks will appear along its entire length.
So, the builders are confident that by mid-summer, the five-kilometer Gagarin Street will be transformed beyond recognition, and this area will become an attractive and comfortable corner to live in.
About 200 people are working on this site – representatives of administrations "UMiSR-140", SU-38 and SU-39 of OAO "Stroitelny trest № 9", Mekhkolonna № 43, DSU-45, Tiraspol PMK, branch № 2 of OAO "Belsvyazstroy", UP "Vitebskgazstroy", Vitebsk Zelenstroy. About 80 units of equipment are involved. Work is carried out without days off for 12 hours a day.
As Dmitry Dukhnov, chief engineer of OSP "UMiSR-140", explained, the frosty winter slowed down the progress of work on replacing engineering networks. After all, frozen ground is unpredictable: one can tear out a piece of pipe or cable along with it, damage, for example, a water supply or a heating main – and the entire microdistrict, where tens of thousands of people live, will be left without heat or water. Therefore, it was necessary to act with jeweler's precision.
However, with the arrival of warm weather, the reconstruction began to gain momentum.
After all, its three phases must be completed according to the schedule by the next International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk".
Work on laying networks has been completed on the section from the former tram loop to bathhouse № 3 (Gagarin, 99a). Here, sewage pipes and the technical water supply feeding boiler house № 5 have been replaced. A potable water supply has been laid, to which subscribers are already connected, and a storm sewer collector, thanks to which the street and adjacent buildings and land plots will be protected from flooding in the future. New poles for streetlights have also been installed here, and landscaping and greening have been partially carried out.
The main efforts are now focused on replacing utility networks in the fourth and fifth construction phases – from Bathhouse No. 3 to the beginning of Gagarin Street. Heavy machinery is operating here, with piles of gravel and sand...
— We have to relocate large main gas and water pipelines, heating networks, and electrical and sewage systems, — explained Dmitry Anatolyevich. — The utilities are old, laid back in the 1960s-70s. And near this section are large shoe and garment factories, schools, kindergartens, and the regional clinical cardiology center. Therefore, any mistakes must be excluded. By the way, a turning loop will soon appear in the square near Secondary School No. 3 in this area. It was decided that the tram will still run along Lyudnikov Avenue. And to improve the environmental conditions of the district, new treatment facilities will be installed. All storm and rainwater will undergo several stages of purification in them before being discharged into the flood plain of the Vitba River.
Of course, old trees were cut down in the construction zone, which the residents of Gagarin Street regret. But, according to Dmitry Dukhnov, there are more than enough justifications for this decision. The street needed to be widened, and this could not be done without cutting down trees. Many trees were in an emergency condition, literally rotten inside, and their root systems were damaging underground utility systems.
After the completion of construction work, the street will undergo large-scale landscaping. Young trees, shrubs, and lawn grass will be planted here, and flower beds will be laid out. New bus stops and modern kiosks will appear along its entire length.
So, the builders are confident that by mid-summer, the five-kilometer Gagarin Street will be transformed beyond recognition, and this area will become an attractive and comfortable corner to live in.