Niš: Over 500 citizen requests rejected for overpass construction on Borska Street

Over 500 objections from citizens regarding the construction of a horseshoe-shaped overpass in Niš's Borska Street have been rejected, sparking significant public outcry. The proposed overpass is part of a railway bypass plan for the Pantelej municipality.

Lidija Stefanović Nikolić, the city urban planner, stated that the commission for plans of the city of Niš received approximately 600 objections, with 541 specifically opposing the overpass. These objections were dismissed by the Institute for Urbanism, and a final decision on whether to accept them will be made by the Commission for Plans.

Residents from the Pantelej and Crveni krst areas, who have organized protests, argue that the planned route would merely shift international freight train traffic from one densely populated area to another. They expressed concerns that the high-speed rail line would pose a serious threat to the health and safety of residents in Pantelej and across Niš. Furthermore, they contend that the horseshoe-shaped overpass would necessitate the demolition of several houses and create a constant risk of vehicles falling onto roofs during winter.

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That slide would represent a road with high slopes and sharp curves. According to traffic engineers, car, van, and bus traffic would not be possible there, nor would ambulances or city cleaning vehicles be able to pass.

Lawyer and Pantelej resident Dragana Milutinović described the proposed overpass as a "completely nonsensical" traffic solution. She explained that the design would feature steep inclines and sharp curves, making it unsuitable for regular vehicles, ambulances, or sanitation trucks. Milutinović also criticized the railway bypass, stating it doesn't bypass anything but rather relocates the line between two populated zones. She appealed to urban planners and city council members not to adopt the plan.

Representatives from the Institute for Urbanism defended the plan, asserting that the overpass is an optimal traffic safety solution with gradients meeting legal standards. They also noted that the railway's route through Pantelej has been part of Niš's General Urban Plan since 1953, with subsequent planning documents maintaining the same trajectory. They claim planned separate lanes will accommodate all traffic types with minimal impact on travel times.

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The slopes meet legally prescribed values, separate areas are planned for the operation of all types of traffic, with minimal extension of travel time for all traffic participants.