Traffic Chaos Grips Zagreb Intersection Amidst Construction and Signal Failure

Zagreb's Savska and Vukovarska intersection became a scene of gridlock and confusion on its first day with new traffic regulations. The "first working day" of the "new traffic regulation" saw "real chaos" as a "malfunctioning traffic light" added to the mayhem.

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Around 10 a.m., the traffic light also "died," and soon a bottleneck formed in which no one, seemingly, knew who had the right of way, and pedestrians could only watch the situation from the sidewalk and hope for the best.

By midday, "two cars had fallen into the dug-up tram tracks," and a "traffic jam" that "lasted almost an hour" disrupted tram services. "Columns of cars" stretched for blocks on both Vukovarska and Savska roads. The "temporary traffic light" installed to guide drivers through a complex U-turn maneuver for specific turns proved insufficient, leading to "long queues" and "slow-moving" traffic.

The city is undertaking a "five-million-euro" project at the intersection, which includes a "3.8-million-euro" comprehensive renovation of the main water pipeline on Vukovarska and a "1.2-million-euro" repair of a worn-out tram switch. These "summer-long" works mean the "new traffic regulation" will remain in effect until the end of August.

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By midday, a car had fallen into the dug-up tracks on two occasions, and the resolution of the tram delay lasted almost an hour.

Drivers attempting to turn left from Vukovarska towards Trešnjevka or Savska had to make a right turn into Savska, then perform a U-turn about fifty meters down, and proceed south. Those heading north on Savska were directed to use a detour via the Vukovarska and Fausta Vrančića intersection. All left turns at the intersection were prohibited. The situation was further complicated when the traffic light "died" around 10 a.m., leaving drivers uncertain about right-of-way and pedestrians watching from sidewalks "hoping for the best."

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Whoever thought of this should have accounted for such situations. Someone should be there to regulate traffic, letting drivers go as they please.