No more traffic jams in Vozdovac as of 2014 - Tram tracks in middle of Vojvode Stepe street, Autokomanda gets traffic lights

(future look of Vojvode Stepe street)

Tram tracks in the middle of the street, one lane in each direction, new municipal infrastructure and bigger number of parking places - this is how Vojvode Stepe street in Belgrade will look like after its reconstruction. This important artery, famous for traffic jams and improper parking, will start getting a new look as early as in the first half of 2013.

The main reconstruction project has been designed by the Transport Institute CIP. According to the city authorities, the entire documentation should be prepared and the contractor appointed until the year`s end. The work will be financed from a loan of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). As the media in Belgrade announced earlier, the estimated value of the work is between 15 and 16 million euros.

Relocation of tram tracks to the middle of the street, as it was done in Kralja Aleksandra Boulevard, will allow for a better flow of both road and tram traffic. In addition, the problem of improper parking, which is currently a "trademark" of this street in Vozdovac, will be resolved through the provision of a larger number of parking places.

- According to the project, parking places will be situated between the lane and the pavement for pedestrians. The plan is to build about 100 parking places on the pavement, but the parking area will be separated from the pedestrian walk by short vertical posts – Dragan Ivanovic from the City Investment Agency explains to eKapija.

In addition to reconstructed traffic signalling system, street lighting and municipal infrastructure, Vojvode Stepe street will also get underground trash containers and info displays at tram stops, says our interlocutor.

- The reconstruction also implies relocation of power installations, modernization of lighting, installation of traffic lights at crossroads and refurbishment of public green areas.

Aside from improving the flow of vehicles, preventing traffic jams and increasing the safety, the reconstruction of this important street stretching from the tram terminus in Banjica to the Autokomanda roundabout (which will also be reconstructed) will also enable public utility companies to lower the costs of maintenance of municipal infrastructure. In the future, the new structure of tram tracks and the new tram suspension system will reduce the noise and vibrations.

Traffic lights at Autokomanda

Tram tracks, hot water pipeline and water supply network at Autokomanda will be reconstructed and the roundabout will get traffic lights, people at the Investment Agency announced to eKapija.

- Reconstruction of Vojvode Stepe street is only one of the projects to be financed from the EBRD`s loan of EUR 57 million, which was taken out in late 2011. At this moment, the EBRD is preparing a consultant for this project, which is a precondition for the announcement of a tender – City Manager Aleksandar Bijelic told Blic newspaper recently.

He explained that the tender should be announced in September and that the EBRD would determine the number of contractors. The exact date of the commencement of work, which is expected in the first half of 2013, depends on the consultant.

The loan granted by the EBRD will also be used to finance the reconstruction of Slavija Square and Oslobodjenja Boulevard. The Vojvode Stepe reconstruction project is already designed, while other projects are still under design.

According to the city authorities, the value of the work on Slavija is close to EUR 5 million, while about EUR 6 million are required for the Oslobodjenja Boulevard project. In that way, the reconstruction of the entire section (the Slavija roundabout - the top of Vojvode Stepe street) will cost a total of 25-26 million euros.

Milica Stevuljevic