In Kyiv, a phased repair of the bridge over the Desenka River is underway, while traffic remains open. The work is being carried out on separate sections of the lanes to maintain communication between the left and right banks, the Department of Transport Infrastructure of the Kyiv City State Administration reported.
According to officials, a complete closure of the bridge is impossible due to its importance as a key transport artery of the capital. To reduce congestion during rush hour, reverse traffic was introduced from August 14: in the morning - three lanes towards the right bank and one towards the left, in the evening - the opposite.
However, on the first day after the scheme was introduced, it became clear that in the afternoon, traffic from the left to the right bank had practically stopped. Long columns of cars, buses, and trolleybuses stood in traffic jams for hours in almost 30-degree heat. Many passengers left their vehicles and walked, because it was faster than waiting in a stationary stream. Even after 9:00 p.m., cars moved very slowly.
Patrol police officers, who in the first days were supposed to monitor compliance with the rules and keep the lane clear for public transport, were absent after 4:00 PM, which further complicated the situation.
Repair work on the bridge began in 2023 at the request of the Kyivavtoshlyakhmist Enterprise and includes replacing the upper and lower layers of asphalt, installing waterproofing, and updating the beams of the span structures. In 2024, work continued on other lanes, and the current stage is planned to be completed by the end of the year.
