The Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) has announced a major reorganization of pedestrian traffic around Bessarabska Square. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a post from the KCSA press service. Under the authorities' plan, residents and visitors to the capital will no longer need to descend to the underground level of the Metrogall shopping center to cross one of the key arteries of the city center: all existing underground routes will be duplicated by above-ground crossings.
Six above-ground crossings instead of descending into Metrogall
Konstantin Ussov, Deputy Head of the KCSA for the exercise of self-governance powers, explained that six new above-ground pedestrian crossings will appear around Bessarabska Square. "All underground pedestrian crossings around Bessarabska Square that go through the Metrogall shopping center will be duplicated by safe above-ground pedestrian crossings. Work will begin in the near future," he stated. Thus, the underground crossings will not be removed but will be supplemented by above-ground equivalents, in order to create more convenient and accessible routes for pedestrians.
Coordinated scheme and traffic lights
A new traffic organization scheme has already been developed and approved for the implementation of the project, and it has been coordinated by the Directorate of the Patrol Police in the city of Kyiv. Both vehicular and pedestrian traffic lights will be installed at the new crossings. The specific points mentioned in the KCSA infographic include an above-ground crossing on Taras Shevchenko Boulevard, a crossing on Holosiivska Street (Velyka Vasylkivska), and a crossing at the intersection of Holosiivska Street and Bessarabskyi Passage. Separate changes are planned on Bessarabskyi Passage itself, where a dedicated above-ground crossing will be built along Basseina Street.
Barrier-free access and bicycle crossings
A key emphasis in the project is on accessibility: the curb height will be lowered at the crossings to make it easier for people with disabilities and other mobility-impaired groups to move around. In addition, the scheme provides for bicycle crossings adjacent to the pedestrian crossings — in particular, on the section between Basseina Street and Shota Rustaveli Street. The KCSA emphasizes that, once the scheme is implemented, pedestrians will be able to cross the streets via above-ground crossings without having to use underground routes with stairs, and a coherent barrier-free pedestrian route will be formed around Bessarabska Square. According to the authorities, the existing crossing between Khreshchatyk and Bessarabskyi Market already provides an accessible route and will be updated in line with modern standards.
Parking and lane redistribution
On Bessarabskyi Passage, traffic lanes will be redistributed to build an additional sidewalk on the side of Arena City and a safe pedestrian route, with a regulated entrance to the underground parking provided. Between Bessarabskyi Market and Arena City, a parking area will also be built, which will organize vehicle parking and provide spaces for cars of people with disabilities.
KCSA disclaimer about the visualizations
In closing, the KCSA clarified that all published illustrations "are purely visualizations and do not reflect the approved design solution." This means that the final appearance of the crossings, the exact geometry of the sidewalks, and the placement of elements may differ from the presented sketches. It was previously reported that traffic on Holosiivska Street and Taras Shevchenko Boulevard in central Kyiv has been partially restricted for two weeks, which may be related to preparation for the works.
