Reconstruction works in the Špitálska Street in Bratislava. (source: Sme - Jozef Jakubčo)
The work on the tram track in Špitálska Street that made the street impassable for both city transport and cars will continue after a two-week-long break, the Bratislava Transport Company (DPB) which operates the city transport wrote on its website.
The reconstruction of the track – and thus also on the road that has been reconstructed as well – was temporarily halted after locals complained that the new tram stop was approved without their consent, thus violating their rights. Effectively, vehicles driving out of an exit from a block of flats would end up in the middle of pedestrians waiting for their tram, had the stop at Špitálska 33 been located at the place where it was originally planned.
The current proposed solution is that the stop be moved close to the temporary stop in Kamenné Námestie square, in the direction of the historical centre, but some inhabitants disapprove of this.
The Transport Ministry informed the SITA newswire that it is only an appellate body and decided that the construction license was not issued in line with the law.
“The ministry does not propose a technical solution, or the location for the stop; this is the responsibility of DPB, the Bratislava Region administration and the Bratislava City Council,” the ministry wrote to SITA.
What are the possibilities?
The stop could be moved away from the original location, closer to the historical centre, Bratislava Region informed on September 22.
The work in Špitálska, feared to be halted for about two months, will continue, but the question of the disputed tram stop is avoided.
The area between tram stops in Kamenné Námestie and the crossroad of trams in Americké Námestie square is being renovated, with a focus on the rail top-side and the stops/platforms. The anti-vibration and anti-noise elements should be included in the renovation as well. The end of the work and re-opening of traffic in both directions had been slated for the end of October before the work was stopped.
