Three People to Repair? Users React to Decision to Renovate Victory Bridge Sidewalks and First Lanes in Nine Months

The Yerevan City Hall issued a statement today announcing the latest construction works to take place in one of the busiest areas of the capital. The announcement pertains to closing the sidewalks and the first lanes of the Victory Bridge for a period of nine months.

"Due to renovations of the Victory Bridge, the sidewalks and car lanes will be closed from February 20 to November 20 of this year. Accordingly, from 20.02.2023 to 05.07.2023, the right side heading from Isakov Avenue towards Argishti Street will be closed, and from 05.07.2023 to 20.11.2023, the left side for the same direction will be closed. To ensure safe pedestrian movement, it is suggested to use the existing underground passage at the beginning of Isakov Avenue, as well as the pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Isakov Avenue and Argishti Street, and the underground pedestrian passage on Gr. Lusavorich Street," the statement said.

While the city hall has apologized for the temporary inconveniences caused, this does little to ease the frustration of local residents who now face the prospect of even heavier traffic over the next nine months.

We have selected and present some of the comments from users below the publication:

Aram Muradyan - "I want to understand, are we really this helpless? Are we not capable? Our neighbors the Azerbaijanis built about 8000 km of roads filled with complex structures and tunnels from scratch in just one year. Are we renovating one bridge in nine months?"

Vahe Ghukasyan - "Dear City Hall, have you ever seen the pace of your construction works? Instead of taking pretty photos, go see how your contractors drink coffee all day instead of doing their work, and you agree to those conditions with your heads down. Save your deputy mayor’s efforts and finally start respecting the citizens!"

Alex Mak - "The length of the two sidewalks is only 350-380 m, and they are going to renovate them in nine phases. So that means about 40 m a month? 1.3 m a day? How will they accomplish such a titanic task... Maybe you should stretch it out for 2-3 years and properly cash in on it."

Rob Davtyan - "Are three people doing the renovation? There are probably four working on Babajanian Street, and that’s why finishing that street takes years."

Arman Gevorgyan - "If you are going to be working on the sidewalks of one bridge for five months, then it is doubtful you can complete even one bridge in 150 years. You think a bridge connecting one side of a huge city to the other can be renovated in just five months, and only the sidewalks? The way you work is how you renovate."

Anni Alaverdyan - "But why is there a need to rush like that? Just close it for five years and do your work steadily, at the speed of one stone per day..."