Karczunkowska opened for traffic - but not for pedestrians

While I was in London, a long-awaited event occurred in Jeziorki - the opening to vehicular traffic of the viaduct carrying ulica Karczunkowska over the Warsaw-Radom railway line. This happened (thanks Bartek!) on 15 November - nearly three years and three months after the level crossing it replaces was finally closed.

But while cars and trucks can use the new piece of infrastructure to cross from one side to the other, pedestrians can't. Barriers have been erected on both footpaths on both side of the viaduct, and at the top and the bottom of all four sets of steps down to platform level. I can only guess that this is while the level-access lifts are installed, checked and signed off. In the meanwhile, pedestrians have to cross a live railway line - something that rail infrastructure operator PKP PLK says is dangerous.

Below: on the other side of the viaduct the same story - note the sign telling pedestrians to cross on the other side. Przejście drugą stroną ulicy. Which as you can see above, is also closed. "Pedestrians, piss off!"

Below: the man on the right is partially sighted. He has a stick and is on his way from the temporary bus loop. It is apparently safer for him to cross over three live railway tracks than it is for him to use the pavement upon the viaduct. Note the barriers bolted into the newly laid asphalt. This is to stop cars from using this new stretch of road to get close to the station. Why? Poor planning, lack of thought and joined-up project management. PKP PLK and the city and district road departments are unable to talk to each other. And note the lift in the distance - it's halfway down the shaft. Still not working.

The health and safety of pedestrians is of secondary concern to the contractor. Ahead of me on the pavement towards the station, an excavator is shovelling away, swinging the arm hither and yon. The same is happening on the other side of the road (out of shot). There is no safe way to get to the station.

On the platform. You can see barriers at the top and bottom of each of the two sets of steps on this side of the viaduct. These are fastened securely with cable-ties to stop passengers from using the stairs. To get from one side of the line to the other, there's no alternative but to cross the tracks.

No doubt there will be a few more months of inconvenience for passengers and locals until full pedestrian access to the viaduct is granted. But at least there are plans for this to happen. Unlike the pavement for ul. Karczunkowska, which remains something for which the city of Warsaw and the district of Ursynów have no plans. Below: once down from the armour-plated crash-barrier security of the viaduct, pedestrians step out onto the margin of a field, divided from the roadway by not even a standard raised kerb. This is dangerous.

Below: this week has been mercifully dry, but imagine what this puddle looks like after several days of incessant rain. Pedestrians have no choice but to step out into the roadway. This is dangerous.

Below: under the viaduct, as an evening train departs from W-wa Jeziorki on its way to Piaseczno.

This time last year:
Edinburgh's Polish statues

This time two years ago:
Edinburgh - walking the Water of Leith

This time three years ago:
Poland's north-west frontier

This time four years ago:
Cars must fade from our cities

This time six years ago:
Unnecessary street lighting wastes money
[Would you believe six years later, this is still going on!]

This time nine years ago:
Warsaw's heros on the walls 

This time eight years ago:
Tax dodge or public service? 

This time 10 years ago:
Warsaw's woodlands in autumn

This time 11 years ago:
Still here, the early snow

This time 12 years ago:
Another point of view