Biden in Warsaw. Difficulties for the inhabitants of the capital

Magdalena Zapart
2023-02-19, last updated 2023-02-19 18:07

On Tuesday, February 21, US President Joe Biden will arrive in Warsaw in the morning. In the followingnoon, in the gardens of the Royal Castle, he will give a speech to which all residents are invited. The two-day visit will last until Wednesday followingnoon. Parking restrictions will be introduced on the streets of Śródmieście, and traffic will be stopped during the passage of columns with foreign politicians.

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By decision of the mayor of Warsaw, a staff coordinating the work of all services in the city will be appointed in the Capital Security Centre. The capital appeals to residents to follow the instructions of the services responsible for security during the visit of the US president.

Speech in the gardens of the Royal Castle

The U.S. Embassy invites you to a speech by President Joe Biden on Tuesday at 17:30 in the gardens of the Royal Castle. You must register for the event, the gates will open at 14:00. A security check is to be expected. Large bags, backpacks, umbrellas, as well as banners, posters or flags will not be allowed.

Street closures

From February 21 to 22, major changes in road traffic will be introduced, which will primarily cover the area of ​​the very center of Warsaw, as well as the Old Town. Due to organizational and security requirements, parking will not be allowed on many streets during the visit of the US President and representatives of Central and Eastern European countries.

Parking exclusions will also apply to designated parking spaces, bays and sidewalks. Restrictions will also apply on cross streets within 50 meters of road intersections (or up to the first intersection).

During the passage of columns of vehicles with representatives of guests, the police will temporarily stop traffic on selected streets of Śródmieście. Restrictions may be introduced for pedestrians and cyclists. These will mainly concern the vicinity of hotels, the Presidential Palace and the Royal Castle.

Due to the nature of the event, the information may be changed or supplemented. During the stay of the US president in Warsaw, state services may operationally decide to exclude other streets from traffic.

Parking changes

On February 20-22 (Monday to Wednesday) the following streets will be excluded from parking (also in designated parking spaces, bays and sidewalks): Emilii Plater – on the section from Al. Jerozolimskie to ul. Nowogrodzka and on the section from ul. Śliska to Sienna on the west side (next to the hotel); Śliska – on the section from ul. Emilii Plater to Sosnowa (behind the hotel); Sosnowa – on the section from ul. Śliska to Sienna; Sienna – on the section from ul. Sosnowa to Emilia Plater; Nowogrodzka – on the section from ul. Emilia Plater to Chałubiński; Zamkowy Square – all over; Senatorska – on the section from ul. Miodowa to Podwale; Podwale – on the section from ul. Senatorska to Chapter; Chapter – along the entire length; car park under the Śląsko-Dąbrowski Bridge (between Grodzka Street and Nowy Zjazd Street) – along the entire length; Bugaj – along the entire length; Pain – along the entire length; Wybrzeże Gdańskie – on the side of the Royal Castle, on the section from ul. Sorrow to Grodzka; Grodzka – along the entire length; New Zjazd – all the way.

During this time, you will also not be able to park in the parking lots of the Public Lands Authority: at al. 3 Maja (under the arcades of the Poniatowski Bridge), at ul. Wybrzeże Gdańskie (between ul. Boleść and Grodzka).

Movement changes

During President Joe Biden’s visit to the capital, the police will temporarily stop traffic on roads leading to Chopin Airport, the Marriott hotel and the Intercontinental hotel, as well as in the area of ​​the Presidential Palace and the Royal Castle. Drivers should expect traffic closures, e.g. on the streets: Żwirki i Wigury; Raszyńska; Al. Jerozolimskie and the Józef Poniatowski Bridge; Emilia Plater; Marszałkowska; New World; Krakowskie Przedmieście; Wisłostrada from the Grota-Rowecki bridge to the Łazienkowski bridge.

During the meetings, the services may also decide to close roads in the Old Town area: al. “Solidarity” and the Śląsko-Dąbrowski bridge; Senatorska; Podwale; Kapitulna.

From Tuesday from the beginning of the day to Wednesday until the end of the day, the bicycle lane on ul. Emilii Plater, on the section from ul. Świętokrzyska to ul. Golden.

The Town Hall recommends avoiding the center of Warsaw from Tuesday morning to Wednesday night. Drivers are asked to follow the instructions of police officers, officers of the State Protection Service and the City Guard.

Changes for pedestrians

Pedestrians should expect disruption in the Marriott and Intercontinental area. The services may decide to close passages and sidewalks in the area of ​​both these buildings. Operationally, the police may also decide to limit pedestrian traffic in the vicinity of the Royal Castle and the Presidential Palace.

Changes in communication

Large changes in bus and tram routes are expected. As the police close further streets to traffic, public transport vehicles will be directed to detour routes along the nearest passable streets, their routes may also be shortened. For this reason, several bus lines on Tuesday and Wednesday will change their routes so that they do not go to those areas of the city where the greatest changes in traffic are expected: the route of line 521 will be shortened – buses will run only on the Falenica-Wiatraczna section. Buses of line 518 will run on the Nowodwory-Metro Marymont route. Buses line 178 – They will only reach the Rondo Daszyńskiego metro station from Ursus, they will not serve the rest of the route. On the other hand, 117 and 507 will not cross the Vistula River – from the J.Washington roundregarding, they will be directed to the Stadion Narodowy metro station and end their route here. Tram line 13 will be suspended on Tuesday.

The town hall encourages the use of the subway and trains. On Tuesday and Wednesday, metro trains on both lines will run more frequently. ZTM tickets are honored on Koleje Mazowieckie trains and on selected connections of other railway carriers. Passengers with ZTM cardboard tickets that have not been previously validated should “cancel” them by permanently writing the date and time of the start of the journey on the back of the ticket, in the 24-hour format, e.g. 13/03/2022 at 06:55. encoded on the cards must activate them in advance in the WTP vehicle or metro gate, or following reporting to the train manager.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, passengers will be assisted by several informants. In key places, they will direct you to the best available means of transport. Several dozen traffic supervision instructors will work on the streets of Warsaw. Up-to-date information on the functioning of public transport will be available on the WTP website and in social media in a “live” coverage of Warsaw streets on Tuesday from 6:00-21:00 and on Wednesday from 6:00-18:00: 00.

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