Enhancing road safety: how the EU project is changing Ukrainian city infrastructure

According to the Patrol Police statistics for 2022-2023, 52,647 people were injured, and 5,844 died in road traffic accidents in Ukraine. In almost 16% of road accidents, children under 18 were injured and/or killed. The victims include both civilians and soldiers who were away from the area of active combat operations.

Human life is priceless. In a time of war, when the Ukrainian people are fighting for their right to exist in a war against the aggressor, this axiom calls for enhanced security measures to protect the population. Reconstruction of road infrastructure can help reduce road accident victims and shape a safer, more inclusive future.

"Safety is a fundamental European value and a human right. Street reconstruction is, above all, about saving lives and making cities more inclusive and sustainable. We are helping Ukraine build a safer future for all its citizens. This project is a confident step towards European integration, and with it, European standards of safety and quality of life," said Jocelyn Cornet, Head of the Reconstruction, Energy, Infrastructure, and Environment Section of the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

In Europe, pedestrians and cyclists are the primary beneficiaries of street reconstruction. Engineers are changing roads in their projects, so they no longer focus solely on the needs of motorists. The goal is a safe, comfortable, and accessible environment for all road users. European cities are all moving in this direction, sometimes under the umbrella of a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, and there is an abundance of good experience to learn from. 

In the past, Ukrainian cities had narrow pavements, unsafe or even non-existent crossings, and inconvenient public transport, which forced people to use cars, hoping to get around the city faster and more conveniently. As a result, the number of vehicles on the roads has multiplied beyond the design capacities of the city infrastructure. This results in a vicious circle: the more automobiles there are, the more endangered pedestrians feel, encouraging them to get behind the wheel.

The renovated urban space creates attractive alternatives to car traffic by encouraging walking, cycling and the use of public transport. This leads to a reduction in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, noise and other side effects of car traffic. In addition, walking and cycling positively impact the physical and mental health of citizens. The projects also include 'greening' – planting of trees etc. – which helps to reduce air temperature. Thus, the result is a safer and environmentally friendlier and more comfortable environment.

Recommendations for achieving these and other sustainability objectives are detailed in the comprehensive Urban Streetscape Guidelines handbook for Ukraine, developed as part of the project. The Guidelines are based on the experience of the best European practices and adapts them to the context of Ukrainian cities. It aims to transform urban infrastructure in the coming decades by providing recommendations for future design of safe, inclusive, and green streetscapes, which will support not only sustainable transport, but also dynamic and liveable cities. The document is currently under endorsement by the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine.

"The support of the European Union allows us to rebuild and implement real changes on our streets, turning ideas into tangible plans and results. We are working together to make every road user safer. When it comes to road safety, we understand that behind every statistic are the lives of Ukrainians," said the Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine – the Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, Oleksii Kuleba.

Lviv is one of the project participants seeking to improve its road infrastructure. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the city has not only sheltered a large number of internally displaced people but also continues to receive tourists from all over Ukraine and abroad.

In 2022-2023, 49 people died, and 1412 were injured, however, the trend is downward. Participation in the project is expected to reduce the number of road accident victims further.

"Road safety is one of the most important factors for the comfort of our residents and numerous tourists. Thus, it is one of the priority areas of Lviv's development. By investing in the reconstruction of streets, we are investing in the city's future, its economic development and the quality of life of its citizens," said Andriy Moskalenko, First Deputy Mayor of Lviv City Council.

Reconstruction work will soon begin on the 2.7 km-long Borysa Hrinchenka and Hetmana I. Mazepy streets, which should be completed by the second half of 2026. The project is worth €13.5 million in total. The European Investment Bank will co-finance €9.8 million, and the city will provide the remaining amount.

Hetmana I. Mazepy Street after reconstruction. Material provided by the Institute for Spatial Development

"We are working to ensure that Lviv harmoniously combines modern, convenient and inclusive infrastructure with a rich historical heritage. The goal is to renovate the infrastructure that has not been renewed since the 60s-70s. Many things have changed since then: the amount of traffic, the population of the area, safety requirements, etc. These streets are an extension of the main arteries of our city, connecting residential areas with many social infrastructure facilities, including the largest hospital complex in western Ukraine" — says Andriy Pavliv, Head of the Investment and Projects Division of the Lviv City Council.

According to the open data geoportal of the Lviv City Council, in 2017-2023, about 70 road accidents occurred on this section of the road, with more than 170 people injured. The most common causes were related to car traffic and included violation of manoeuvering rules, speeding, failure to maintain distance, and violation of pedestrian crossings and intersections.

B. Hrinchenka and Hetmana I. Mazepy streets are of great social and economic importance, which means a significant traffic load and a flow of people that will increase. This is a highway of district significance, not only because of the lack of a complete bypass route. It is close to educational institutions of all levels, dozens of shops, a market, parks, a shopping centre, and a complex of hospitals. Among the latter are St Panteleimon Hospital, St Nicholas Children's Hospital and the National Rehabilitation Centre 'Unbroken', which treats adults, children and military personnel from all over Ukraine.

"The reconstruction of these streets is one of the first transformational steps for the northern part of Lviv. This is our response to the challenges of the city's rapid development and the growing needs of residents. We put traffic safety as an absolute priority, but we also tried to look at the bigger picture. We worked so that these streets would be harmoniously combined with new projects in the future. The design engineer must implement the project in a way that allows the road user to make a mistake without consequences for oneself and other road users," says Andriy Chaiko, chief engineer of the project at the Institute of Spatial Development in Lviv.

After conducting an in-depth assessment of these streets, the experts proposed a number of measures for change that cover various aspects of transport infrastructure.

The project envisages complete roadway reconstruction with pavement replacement. To reduce traffic congestion and optimise the transport network, additional turning lanes will be provided at intersections, particularly those leading to nearby hospitals.

A roundabout will be arranged at the intersection of Hetmana I. Mazepy and Zamarstynivska streets. This decision was made due to the effectiveness of this type of connection when connecting traffic flows of equal intensity from different directions. The roundabout will help to calm down busy traffic. It is worth noting that the first project, developed back in 2017, already took into account the needs that would arise in connection with the construction of a shopping centre nearby.

Roundabout at the intersection of Hetmana I. Mazepy and Zamarstynivska streets

The reconstruction also includes the installation of new traffic signals at seven major intersections and traffic lights to regulate previously unregulated areas.

An innovative solution will be the installation of public transport lanes in the middle of the roadway, which ambulances will also use. This will ensure direct traffic without changing trajectories, which is especially important for ambulances, as every second saves lives. In addition, the delays on public transport routes will be reduced as there will be no need to drive into bus bay stops. Another reason is the increase in the number of public transport routes through Hetmana I. Mazepy and Borysa Hrinchenka streets. Since 2017, the number of bus routes through these streets has increased from six to eleven.

In addition, the reconstruction of these streets will help reduce traffic speeds. Only in 2023, 1716 people died and 12364 were injured in Ukraine due to drivers exceeding the safe and established speed limit.

In order to make it easier for drivers to find parking spaces, the project envisages the installation of pocket parking spaces and the improvement of existing parking areas along the roadway. It is worth noting that the arrangement of public transport lanes to the right and left of the street axis will prevent any collisions between public and private transport when driving in or out of the parking space.

Optimising traffic flow was one of the project's objectives, but the experts also aimed to create a comfortable and inclusive environment for all road users. Therefore, the reconstruction of these streets will turn previously driver-only spaces into comfortable and safe areas for pedestrians and cyclists as well.

The pavements along the streets will be completely replaced and upgraded. The designers used satellite imagery and studied the design area to ensure that all important pedestrian connections are provided along convenient routes for movement.

Given the increase in public transport lanes, safety islands for pedestrian crossings in the middle of the roadway will become a necessary element. In Ukraine in 2023, 931 pedestrians died, and 6006 pedestrians were injured in road accidents.

Lighting will be changed for comfortable movement in the dark. With good visibility, drivers are more likely to recognise markings, road signs and objects on the roadway and thus reach their destination safely, both for themselves and others. Pedestrians also benefit tremendously from good street lighting.

Landscaping is an important component of the project. The reconstruction plan preserved the existing green areas as much as possible and created new public recreation areas.

The project also addresses the need to create a comfortable and safe space for cyclists, which should encourage more Lviv residents to cycle. The reconstruction of Borysa Hrinchenka and Hetmana I. Mazepy streets will include the installation of a cycle lane and special crossings for cyclists, and traffic lights. According to last year's statistics, there were 1,447 road accidents involving cyclists in Ukraine, resulting in 214 deaths and 1299 injuries. The designed cycling infrastructure will create safe, continuous street traffic. When built, it will be connected to cycling infrastructure on Bohdana Hmelnytskoho, Mykoliachuka, Orlyla streets. Also, it will be short space from cycling infrastructure on Varshavska, which is already in construction, but delayed due to the fill-scale invasion.

The reconstruction will significantly improve the neighbourhood's accessibility, as it will create safe connections along and across the corridor, which is especially important for vulnerable groups such as hospital patients, children, the elderly, etc.

The first steps towards such changes will be to upgrade the water supply, sewerage, central heating, and gas supply systems, which will positively impact the quality of life of the district's residents. This will also prevent repeated digging and construction activity in the corridor, which often happens when service providers are not working in sync. 

Lviv residents supported the project during the public discussion, and their suggestions were considered in the final version. The citizens stressed the importance of installing additional traffic lights, improving street lighting, and preserving existing plantings. These features therefore have a high priority in the project.

Recently, at one of its sessions, the Lviv City Council voted to provide a local guarantee for the reconstruction. The next step is to announce a tender for its implementation.

The reconstruction will be carried out in stages, using schedules for the convenience of Lviv residents. 

The introduction of new approaches to the organisation of street space during and after the reconstruction is expected to significantly improve road safety, reducing not only the number of accidents on this road section by up to 60% but also the severity of their consequences for people.

"High-quality infrastructure is key to the country's recovery and prosperity. We continue to invest in Ukraine despite these challenging times because of our belief in the country's resilience, its unwavering capacity and its thirst for development," comments EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska, who is responsible for the Bank's operations in Ukraine.

Visual materials of the reconstruction project were supplied by Lviv municipal enterprise "Institute of Spatial Development"