Kaunas drivers criticize mistakes after new bypass opens

A long-awaited bypass has opened in Kaunas, but drivers are still trying to understand the new road layout. The former Ateities plentas has become Ateities gatvė, while a new Ateities plentas now carries traffic toward the A1 highway.

Martynas Matusevičius, head of the city’s Transport and Traffic Organization Division, said the redesign aims to keep transit traffic farther from residential areas. The new road runs directly from the Kaunas hydroelectric plant to the main highway.

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The Ateities plentas is intended for transit traffic, while Ateities gatvė remains for residents. That is what we wanted, so that less transit traffic would be close to residents.

Some drivers say the bypass has made their journeys around 15 minutes faster. Others complain that the new streets are confusing and that signs do not clearly show routes toward Vilnius and Marijampolė. The city has ordered additional signs.

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This exit is too short. The acceleration lane could be longer. There are big traffic jams. What will it be like in winter? The incline is too steep. It will be a nightmare.

The sharpest criticism concerns the short acceleration lane near the hydroelectric plant. Drivers warn that it could cause congestion and accidents, particularly in winter because of the steep incline. Officials say there was no possibility of making the lane longer, but they acknowledge the problem and plan to assess traffic conditions in September.

The city also identifies a bottleneck near Raudonojo Kryžiaus Street. Further changes are planned: two additional lanes between Palemonas and Masiulis streets next year, as well as changes near the hydroelectric plant. The roughly 11-kilometre route is ultimately intended to connect the A1 highway with the Via Baltica toward Warsaw. Another bridge near the hydroelectric plant is due to enter design work soon.

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The bottleneck is near Raudonojo Kryžiaus Street, where the wait is longer. We should wait until September. We will see what we can change. That exit is too short; we would like it to be longer.

Lithuania’s Construction Inspectorate is monitoring the project. It had previously raised concerns, although officials allowed the works to be completed. The inspectorate said the design did not match territorial-planning documents, which envisioned a four-lane road while the project provided for two lanes.

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The design solutions do not comply with the territorial-planning decisions. A violation was recorded. The territorial-planning documents provide for a four-lane road, while the project has two.