Traffic restrictions are temporary
November 16 (Saturday) Temporary traffic restrictions will be introduced on Vētrungiu Street. One-way traffic will be introduced in the section of Vētrungių street from the intersection with Gedvydžių street towards P. Žadeikas street (in the direction of the city center). This means that it will not be possible for transport (except for public and special transport) to turn into Vėtrungiai street from P. Žadeika street.
November 17 (on Sunday) the section of Vētrungiau street from the intersection with Gedvydžių street towards P. Žadeika street will be completely closed to traffic, with the exception of public, special and residents’ transport, so it should not cause major inconveniences to the people living here.
What is the purpose of restrictions?
Vētrungiau Street was selected as a pilot street of the LIFE GreenMe5 project. It implements various measures to reduce noise and air pollution caused by traffic: dense planting, more frequent street washing, use of more ecological street cleaning tools during winter (gravel instead of sand and salt mixture), partial or complete traffic restriction. After each change, the impact of pollution (air and noise) is assessed.
With the LIFE GreenMe5 project, we are trying to solve the problem of noise and air pollution in the city. Through testing, we are looking for the best solutions that could be applied in other streets of Vilnius. I understand that residents may experience temporary inconvenience due to traffic restrictions, but this is done for the sake of the residents themselves – we aim to improve living conditions for the citizens. Air pollution and noise is a critical problem of cities, which directly affects the health of the population,” says Andrius Grigonis, vice mayor of Vilnius city, who oversees the LIFE GreenMe5 project.
Air and noise pollution sensors were installed on the street this summer. These are the first stationary sensors in Vilnius that measure not only air pollution, but also noise. They collect data on air and noise pollution before the changes, during the change and throughout the project. An attempt is made to assess and measure the noise and air quality in the summer – during the holidays, in September – after the start of the school year, and analyze the change during the students’ autumn holidays. And in November, on the scheduled days, changes will be measured after the introduction of temporary traffic restrictions.
The data is made public On the map of the lungs of the city.
“With this research, we are trying to answer how air pollution and noise levels change when certain changes are made. For example, by introducing one-way traffic or even completely restricting traffic and allowing only public, resident and special transport to travel”, says Emilis Tamošiūnas, the expert of the pilot action of the project, the chief specialist of the Sub-department of Environmental Protection Programs and Plantation Management of the Vilnius City Municipality.
He emphasized that with reliable data, it will be analyzed how best practices can be applied to other streets of the city. It will also be possible to calculate the impact of the introduction of certain measures on air pollution and noise levels.
The greenest street in Vilnius?
Among the measures planned to be applied is abundant greening, which not only reduces air pollution and noise, but also contributes to the other goals of LIFE GreenMe5 – the preservation of biodiversity in the city. In the spring, the employees of the Vilnius city municipality together with the Fabijoniški community already took the first steps – the fence of the basketball court near Gedvydžių Street was planted with vines.
This autumn, the company Stebulė, which takes care of the landscaping of the city, will plant about 50 trees: sycamore and Tracian maples, small-leaved lindens, common pines, thuja. “For planting, we chose species that absorb the most pollutants, or dense canopies – such as thuja, which protect well from noise,” explains Vaiva Marozienė, the ecologist who prepared the landscaping project, and the landscape architect of “Vilnius City Parks”.
But that’s not all. In the spring, an incredible amount of bushes will be planted on this street – about 14 thousand. “After the bushes have grown and the trees have turned green, such dense planting should become a green barrier for both air pollution and noise. I have no doubt that this will have a positive impact on the creation of a healthier environment for residents, but it is interesting to check how much it affects our living environment”, V. Marozienė raises questions. According to the ecologist, this should have a positive effect on the overall ecological condition of this part of the city.
Will wash the streets more often
And while the bushes and trees are not yet overgrown, the effectiveness of another measure – street washing – will be measured. “Particulate air pollution often comes from the streets in the spring, especially if the weather is dry. We will check how effective a way to fight such pollution is more frequent street washing”, said E. Tamošiūnas.
Vėtrungiau street was selected from more than 300 streets or sections of streets in Vilnius. When choosing the most suitable street, air pollution, noise, as well as population density, proximity to education, health facilities, stadiums, children’s playgrounds, and public transport stops were taken into account. It was also evaluated whether it will be possible to apply various noise and pollution reduction measures.
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### Interview with Andrius Grigonis, Deputy Mayor of Vilnius
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Andrius. It’s great to have you here to discuss the recent traffic restrictions on Vētrungiu Street as part of the LIFE GreenMe5 project. Can you explain the rationale behind these temporary restrictions?
**Andrius Grigonis:** Thank you for having me! The primary goal of these traffic restrictions is to address the pressing issue of air and noise pollution in Vilnius. By implementing one-way traffic and partial closures, we aim to reduce pollutants emitted from vehicles, thus improving the living conditions for our residents.
**Interviewer:** That sounds essential for the health of the citizens. How will you measure the effectiveness of these changes?
**Andrius Grigonis:** We installed air and noise pollution sensors on Vētrungiu Street this summer. These sensors provide continuous data on pollution levels before, during, and after implementing the changes. We will analyze the data collected during various periods, including holidays and school terms, to understand how these traffic modifications impact air and noise quality.
**Interviewer:** Beyond traffic restrictions, what other measures are being introduced to enhance this area?
**Andrius Grigonis:** We are focusing on extensive greening efforts, which include planting around 50 trees and 14,000 bushes. The chosen species are strategically selected for their ability to absorb pollutants and create a green barrier against noise. This will not only improve air quality but also contribute to biodiversity within the city.
**Interviewer:** What kind of feedback have you received from residents regarding these changes?
**Andrius Grigonis:** While we understand that temporary traffic restrictions may cause some inconvenience, the majority of feedback has been positive. Residents appreciate the long-term vision of creating a healthier environment. We are committed to ensuring that their concerns are heard and addressed throughout this process.
**Interviewer:** Looking forward, what are the next steps for the LIFE GreenMe5 project?
**Andrius Grigonis:** After collecting and analyzing the data from these initial measures, we plan to refine our approach and explore the possibility of implementing similar strategies in other streets across Vilnius. Our goal is to set a precedent for a cleaner, quieter, and more sustainable urban environment.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Andrius, for sharing these insights and the valuable work that the city is doing to improve air quality and reduce noise pollution. We look forward to seeing the positive impacts of the LIFE GreenMe5 project.
**Andrius Grigonis:** Thank you for the opportunity to discuss these important initiatives!