In Zaporizhzhia, the regional military administration has decided to reorganize traffic across the DniproHES dam. The regional defense council has approved a reversible traffic scheme where the direction of most lanes will change depending on actual road congestion. According to RBC-Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration Head Mykhailo Semykin announced this, emphasizing that the new logistics are designed to relieve traffic jams during peak congestion periods.
How the Reversible Scheme Will Work
According to Semykin, the proposed model takes into account the uneven load on the crossing throughout the day. During rush hours, three lanes are allocated to the direction with the highest volume of cars, while oncoming traffic is left with one lane. Switching directions is planned twice a day—in the morning and evening—when the peak flow of vehicles is recorded. Thus, traffic management will adapt to the actual transport load rather than remaining fixed all day.
Security Measures and Temporary Closures
The regional military administration specifically emphasized that the new scheme includes safety protocols. In the event of hostile threats, traffic across the bridge structures will be temporarily blocked. According to the OVA head, such restrictions usually last from five to fifteen minutes, after which traffic is restored. Semykin urged residents to treat the temporary inconveniences with understanding, noting that decisions are made for people's safety.
Context: Escalation of Strikes on Bridges
The decision comes amid a general escalation of attacks on bridge crossings in Ukraine. In recent weeks, Kyiv has experienced the most intense strikes, with the South and North bridges repeatedly hit. According to open sources, one of the latest attacks occurred on the night of November 7: Russian missiles hit the North Bridge, damaging the road surface, trolleybus contact network, and power transmission lines. This dynamic makes a flexible traffic scheme in regions with critical crossings one of the tools to reduce risks and delays.
Previous Incidents in Zaporizhzhia Itself
Crossings in Zaporizhzhia have also repeatedly become targets of strikes. In June, a massive raid was reported, hitting objects in the area of the DniproHES dam and the Preobrazhensky Bridge, with traffic on the latter being restricted. These incidents effectively predetermined the need for a scheme capable of quickly adapting to both transport and emergency situations, maintaining the crossing's capacity during normal periods and ensuring controlled closures during critical ones.
