Demolition of the Old Sava Bridge: Even greater chaos in the announcement

The Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure approved the demolition Old Sava bridge, which will bring numerous changes in the functioning of traffic through the capital.

The bridge, which has been bridging the Sava for more than 80 years, will be closed to traffic on November 1, although actual removal is expected to begin next year.

And while the authorities are announcing this project, the opposition and activists warn that removing this bridge is a big mistake that will contribute to even greater traffic chaos.

That's why it's for October 20th. a protest against the demolition was also scheduled at 17 p.m. on Republic Square in Belgrade.

"Belgrade does not have enough bridges"

And what do the experts say about what awaits citizens who move daily from one part of Belgrade to another?

Retired Professor of the Faculty of Traffic in Belgrade, Milan Vujanić, explains to "Vreme" that there are two basic concepts for solving the current traffic problem. The first is the reduction of the number of vehicles, and the second is the abandonment of the plan to widen the streets in the central city zone, which would be used as new roads.

Speaking about the main problem of the Old Sava bridge, he says that it was the trams that cross over it and that would have to be moved. That way, the bridge would be much more passable and wouldn't bother the residents either. Karađorđeva street would be less burdened by traffic, because it would be used less.

"It is planned to have a wider bridge there, so that the communication between the two parts of the city will be better, and not to remove the bridge." Paris has 17 bridges, Budapest eight or nine, and Belgrade doesn't have enough bridges," says Vujanić and adds that a bridge is an extremely expensive building that only has a purpose when it serves the traffic network.

He points out that citizens will need even more patience and nerves, because the traffic chaos already exists - and now it will only increase.

"Regarding the expectations of the people of Belgrade with traffic chaos, they rightly expect it, but not because of the bridge." It's now nine in the morning and I'm driving at a time when there shouldn't be any rush. People going to work should be there already. I want to say that this amount of vehicles in the last period makes big crowds for most of the day. And when the number of vehicles increases on the same traffic network that existed before, chaos ensues. And that is exactly what is happening. And when one of the existing bridges is disconnected from the traffic network, nothing will fundamentally change, the chaos will continue to exist - it will just be much greater," points out Vujanić.

Photo: N1

Enormous increase in the number of vehicles in traffic

He recalls that in the period from 2003 to 2005 he was a member of the city government in charge of traffic and that the bridge over the Ada was being built at that time.

"I was the vice president of that commission, while the late mayor Nenad Bogdanović was the president. At that time, we planned, carried out and left a place for traffic rails, for trams, between the two lanes. So, at that time it was still planned to cancel tram traffic on the Old Sava Bridge. We also planned the relocation of the Railway and Bus stations, which has now been carried out. If they had stayed where they were, there would have been an even bigger traffic jam," notes Vujanić.

He notes that daily traffic jams in Belgrade are the result of an enormous increase in the number of vehicles in traffic and that there is no simple solution to this problem.

English solution

"We cannot increase the number of streets." We can't even widen the streets, because in the center they would enter demolitions that are not acceptable. As one of the possible solutions, the one from England can be proposed. Namely, the English come up with all kinds of things, so they found a solution for this situation as well, which is the 'congestion charge' in London, that is, the charging of cars entering the central city zone. Whoever wants to enter the center must pay. In this way, all those who do not have a clear reason to stay there do not enter that part. And that is an acceptable solution. Reducing the number of vehicles in the central city zone should be a goal in Belgrade as well," explains Vujanić.

He adds that in addition to this charge, passenger vehicles with at least three people in them are also allowed to use the yellow lane during rush hours in London, so that, for example, employees from the same company are encouraged to go to and from work together. that not everyone uses their own car.

"In that way, instead of four cars, they only have one in the central city area," states the interlocutor of "Vremena".

He says that we must apply such advanced measures.

"Until now, we have adhered to standard measures that include the regulation of what is already on the street." And they have taken steps to reduce the number of vehicles on the street, especially in the central city core," said Vujanić and emphasized: "If they succeed in this, there can be a reduction in congestion. That measure must be a political-traffic measure".

Photo: Vladimir Milovanovic

What is the fate of the Old Sava bridge?

According to unofficial information, before dismantling, work will be necessary on the pillars of the old bridge and the access roads. Engineers emphasized that the dismantling will be carried out carefully, with the plan to remove the bridge in its entirety and transport it to a temporary construction site.

A construction site is currently being built on the left bank of the Sava, and a barge is expected to arrive from the Netherlands to transport the bridge. Containers for workers and engineers who will work on the project are also being prepared.

The design of the new bridge was entrusted to the Faculty of Technical Sciences from Novi Sad, the company Mostogradnja, the Millennium team and IO Design from Belgrade. The contractor is the Chinese company PowerChina, while expert supervision is performed by Louis Berger Adria and CPM consulting.

The removal of the Old Sava Bridge, instead of its reconstruction, was first announced in 2017. The total value of the project, including the demolition and construction of a new steel bridge, amounts to EUR 94 million, of which EUR 79,9 million is secured through a loan with the BNP Paribas group.

The construction of the new bridge is planned to be completed by 2027, and the new bridge will be on the site of the current Old Sava Bridge.

As recently as three months ago, the media announced that on the part of the green area between the Branko bridge and the old Sava bridge, on the Novobeograd side, a construction sign announcing the start of construction was placed. There are several houses for workers and unpacked parts of the fence to enclose the future site of the construction site.

The construction board does not indicate the start date of the works, but it is stated that the completion of the works is in 36 months.

In addition to that information, it was pointed out that the investor is the Republic of Serbia, the financier is the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, and the contractor is "Piwerchina International Group ltd", Belgrade Branch.