Summer traffic management in the city centre

As is the case every year, temporary changes to traffic arrangements will be introduced in Gdańsk city centre. They will come into effect on Monday 24 June and remain in place until Sunday 1 September. The first phase is part of the summer traffic arrangements, whilst the second phase, which comes into effect on 15 July, is linked to St Dominic’s Fair. With minor differences, most of the changes will be similar to those of previous years. This year, too, the boundaries of the Restricted Access Zone in the Old Town will be extended during the summer holidays. To drive within this zone, an IGM pass or an FGM sector parking card is required.

– The summer traffic changes in Gdańsk city centre will be introduced in two stages. The first is the so-called summer phase, which will begin on 24 June. Compared to previous years, only minor changes will be introduced. Meanwhile, on 15 July, work will begin on setting up the infrastructure for St Dominic’s Fair. This will necessitate further changes to traffic arrangements,” says Piotr Kryszewski, Deputy Mayor for Municipal Services.

The holiday period

– Summer in Gdańsk is, above all, a tourist season packed with numerous events, including the biggest one of all: St Dominic’s Fair. “As we do every year, we are introducing changes designed to ensure the safety of both tourists and our residents during this period,” says Agata Lewandowska, City Traffic Engineer. These changes are intended to ensure safe operations, particularly for the former. Therefore, as in previous years, we are extending the restricted access zone.

It will run from 24 June to 14 July. It will then continue after St Dominic’s Fair, from 26 August to 1 September. Below are the details of the traffic arrangements that will be in place during this period.

• Extension of the Restricted Access Zone from Szeroka Street to Podwale Staromiejskie Street. The RTA will also include Słodowników Street (from Bogusławskiego Street to Ogarna Street), Ławnicza Street, Zbytki Street, Pocztowa Street and Za Murami Street. The Restricted Access Zone will also cover Sukiennicza Street (from Dylinki Street)
• The entire area of the extended SOD will be designated as a residential zone. Here is a reminder of the rules: pedestrians have priority, the speed limit for vehicles is 20 km/h, and parking is permitted only in designated areas.
• Holders of IMG passes (for SOD) may enter the Main Town area from the direction of Targ Drzewny via św. Ducha Street only,
• It will not be possible to enter Szeroka Street from Targ Drzewny,
• Access to Szeroka Street via the following streets: św. Ducha, Latarnia and Szeroka. On Szeroka Street, between Latarniana Street and Targ Drzewny (in the direction of Targ Drzewny), one-way traffic will be in force.
• Exit from Szeroka Street to Targ Drzewny via Szeroka Street
• Reversal of the direction of Szklary Street and Lawendowa Street towards Podwale Staromiejskie Street
• The section of Podwale Staromiejskie between Lawendowa Street and the end of the road towards Wałowa Street will be a one-way street in the direction of Wałowa Street
• Grodzka Street, Wapiennicza Street and Stara Stocznia Street will become one-way streets in the direction of Wałowa Street for access to the underground car park of the Brabank building
• The right-hand lanes of Podwale Staromiejskie and Grodzka Streets will be designated as parking spaces within the Pay-and-Display Parking Zone (SPP)
• As in previous years, there will be no changes to the traffic arrangements on Stolarska Street, Mniszki Street and Igielnicka Street

In addition, changes will be made to the traffic lights at the following locations:

• Piastowski Junction;
• St John of Kolno – Łagiewniki;
• Jana z Kolna – Nowomiejska – Gdyńskich Kosynierów;
• Jana z Kolna – Workers’;
• Jana from Kolno – Toolmakers;
• Wałowa – Rybaki Górne;
• Popiełuszki – Nowomiejska.

The St Dominic’s Fair

– This year, St Dominic’s Fair will take place from 27 July to 18 August, covering an area of around 60,000 square metres. It’s a large space, and we’re doing our best to manage it effectively. Listening to the views of local residents, it seems we’re moving in the right direction year on year. Following the suggestions we receive during meetings with Gdańsk residents, just as last year, the fair will not be held on Długie and Rybackie Pobrzeże. This area is intended for walking and is ideal for admiring the beauty of Gdańsk. Instead, just like last year, the stalls will be on Podwale Staromiejskie and Grobla IV, where we have created a new street – Artistic Podwale. There will be even more new features, though there will be no shortage of familiar and much-loved touches either. That is why I would like to warmly invite you to St Dominic’s Fair in Gdańsk right now,” says Dorota Solochewicz, project manager of St Dominic’s Fair.

The first stages of setting up the infrastructure for St Dominic’s Fair will take place on 15 July and will continue until the start of the event on 27 July. St Dominic’s Fair will run from that date until 18 August. The dismantling of the fair’s infrastructure is then scheduled to take place, and will continue until 25 August.

– From Monday, 15 July, we will begin setting up the market infrastructure in the area around Szeroka Street – says Marcin Latuszek, director of MTG’s operations division. – Next in line are Pańska, Podmłyńska and Rajska Streets. On the other side of the Motława, work will begin the following week, i.e. on Monday, 22 July. The installation work will last until 25 July; on 26 July we will bring in the stallholders, and the fair will start on 27 July. “We will begin dismantling work immediately after the Fair ends on 18 August, and we plan to complete it by 25 August at the latest,” assures Marcin Latuszek.

During the periods when the fair infrastructure is being set up and dismantled, there may be temporary disruptions and further closures of streets or sections of streets. For the purposes of the Fair, the following streets in the Old Town, Main Town and the Długie Ogrody area will be closed: Szeroka, Tkacka, Kołodziejska, Pańska, Węglarska, Św. Ducha, Straganiarska, Targ Rybny, Grobla I–IV,  Długie Ogrody, Szafarnia, Rajska, Wielkie Młyny, Podmłyńska, Podwale Staromiejskie (section between Targ Drzewny and Pańska). Closures may affect entire streets or only sections thereof.

Description of changes to traffic management

Old Town

• Rajska Street is closed to traffic – the section between Podwale Staromiejskie Street and Heweliusza Street, as well as Wielkie Młyny Street and Podmłyńska Street
• There will be no additional parking spaces on the carriageway of the two-way Korzenna Street in order to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and access for emergency services
• Na Piaskach Street and Katarzynki Street will become dead-end streets at their junctions with Rajska Street. In addition, Na Piaskach Street, from Kowalska Street to Wielkie Młyny Street, will be subject to a SOD
• To ensure pedestrian safety, the section of Podwale Staromiejskie Street between Targ Drzewny Street and Pańska Street will be closed to traffic. A diversion will be in place via Kowalska, Korzenna and Heweliusza Streets to Rajska Street, or further on to Łagiewniki and Wałowa Streets. Parking spaces for people with disabilities will be designated on the closed section of Podwale Staromiejskie Street.
• The section of Podwale Staromiejskie between Lawendowa Street and the end of the road towards Wałowa Street will be a one-way street in the direction of Wałowa Street
• Grodzka Street and Stara Stocznia Street will become one-way streets in the direction of Wałowa Street, leading to the entrance to the Brabank building’s underground car park
• The right-hand lane of Podwale Staromiejskie Street will be designated for parking spaces as part of the Pay-and-Display Parking Zone (SPP)
• Changes will also be introduced on Stolarska Street, which will become a one-way street from Refektarska Street and Mniszki Street towards Podwale Staromiejskie Street. One-way traffic in this direction will also be maintained on Igielnicka Street.

Main Town

• Access to the Main Town area will be restricted to holders of IMG passes (for SOD) and FGM sector parking cards, and will only be possible from the direction of Targ Drzewny, via św. Ducha Street
• Entry to Szeroka Street from Targ Drzewny is impossible
• Access to Szeroka Street via św. Ducha, Latarnia and Szeroka Streets
• Exit from Szeroka Street to Targ Drzewny via Szeroka Street
• Due to roadworks along the entire length of Długie Pobrzeże and Rybackie Pobrzeże streets, there may be localised disruption to pedestrian traffic
• Reversal of the direction of Szklary Street and Lawendowa Street towards Podwale Staromiejskie Street
• Due to the closure of a section of Tobiasza Street, two-way traffic is in force along the entire length of Świętojańska Street
• Access to streets affected by the Fair is permitted for residents holding an IGM pass (for SOD) and FGM sector parking permits between 8.00 pm and 9.30 am/10.00 am
• Due to the possibility of heavy foot traffic, particularly around the Fish Market and Świętopełk Square, the closure of the access road for residents may be extended temporarily – please follow the instructions of security staff
• As in previous years, the bus loop along Św. Ducha, Złotników, Szklary and Podwale Staromiejskie streets is in operation
• The entrance to Targ Rybny from Podwale Staromiejskie Street is closed to traffic
• Parking spaces for people with disabilities will be designated on the closed section of Podwale Staromiejskie Street

Long Gardens

• Szafarnia will be closed to vehicular traffic from the entrance to the underground car park of the Waterlane building to the intersection with Długie Ogrody Street.
• The section of Długie Ogrody Street between the junction with Długa Grobla Street and the junction with Łąkowa Street will become a one-way street in the direction of Łąkowa Street.
• The Długie Ogrody section from Łąkowa to Szopy Street will be a two-way street.
• It is not possible to exit Szopy Street onto Długie Ogrody Street.
• Krowoderska Street, St. Barbara Street and Seredyński Street will be dead-end streets (no entry from the above-mentioned streets into Długie Ogrody Street).
• On Łąkowa Street, two-way traffic remains without restrictions.

In individual cases, the Gdańsk International Fair issues passes allowing entry to the Fairgrounds, under special conditions. To do this, please contact the Fair Office at: biuro.jarmarku@mtgsa.com.pl

Resident parking

Parking on Targ Węglowy street will be closed exclusively for residents of the Main Town during the Fair, i.e. from 15 July to 25 August. Entry and parking will be permitted upon presentation of a valid IGM identification and an FGM sector parking subscription, as well as an MTG identification. Designated parking spaces will also be set aside for hotel guests from the Main Town area.

For residents of Długie Ogrody street and its surroundings, a parking area will be similarly designated in the vicinity of Brama Żuławska. Entry and parking will be possible based on an MTG identifier.

Coach parks

For the purposes of tourism in the City Centre area, additional parking spaces for coaches will be designated (over 30 spaces). Temporary car parks will be located on the streets:

• Głęboka (from Mostek Street to Wygon Street)
• 3rd May (lay-by at the PKS bus station)
• Wiesława
• Siennicka from the intersection with Elbląska Street to Powalna Street
• Okopowa (next to the multi-storey car park)
• Podwale Przedmiejskie (at the junction with Sadowa Street)
• Wooden Market between St. Ducha and Szeroka streets (up to 10 min)

The above locations are seasonal coach car parks which will operate from 1st July to 31st August. All-year-round locations can be found on the website at: https://gzdiz.gda.pl/parkingi

Park & Ride Service

Between 27 July and 18 August, drivers wishing to attend St. Dominic's Fair will be able to leave their car in the car park at Plac Zebrań Ludowych and travel to their destination by tram. The parking fee is PLN 15 (PLN 13 for City Card holders), and then travel by tram for a maximum of 5 people on the Oliwska Gate – Wyżynna Gate route is free of charge.

Extension of the Restricted Access Zone to Podwale Staromiejskie Street and Podwale Przedmiejskie Street

As in previous years, the boundaries of the Restricted Access Zone (SOD) will be extended to Podwale Staromiejskie Street this year as well. To restrict unauthorised vehicles from entering the RTA, access will only be permitted via Świętego Ducha Street from the direction of Targ Drzewny and via Targ Rybny from the direction of Podwale Staromiejskie. Furthermore, the summer RTA will also cover the streets south of Długa Street and Długi Targ up to Podwale Przedmiejskie.

In addition to the existing streets, the extended SOD will also include the following streets: Szeroka, Pańska, Węglarska, Świętojańska, Lawendowa, Straganiarska, Szklary, Słomiana, Grobla II, Grobla III, Grobla IV, Pachołów, Tobiasza, Tandeta, Różana, Szpitalna, U Furty, Targ Rybny, Warzywnicza, Tandeta, Tokarska, Minogi, Podmurze, Latarniana, as well as Sukiennicza Street on the section from Dylinki Street to the Radunia Canal, and the streets Ławnicza, Słodowników, Pocztowa, Za Murami and Zbytki. In addition, the SOD will cover the following streets: Sukiennicza and Na Piaskach.

Please note that throughout the Restricted Access Zone in the City Centre (both the standard and extended zones), the rules governing traffic in residential areas apply. These rules give priority to pedestrians, set a maximum speed limit of 20 km/h for vehicles, and require all vehicles to park only in designated areas.

An IGM ID is required in the Restricted Access Zone

To drive a car within the expanded and permanent SOD, an IGM permit is required. This permit is issued to residents of the property (both owners and tenants), as well as owners, tenants, or leaseholders of commercial premises located within the SOD.

– Due to the very high number of people collecting 24-hour permits, limits will be introduced on the issue of these permits during St Dominic’s Fair, i.e. from 15 July – says Agata Lewandowska, City Traffic Engineer. “We want to limit the influx of people travelling by car who do not live in the city centre. During this period, there are no parking spaces available here, nor is it possible to move around freely.”.

Those eligible are invited to collect free IGM passes from:

• The GZDiZ Service Point at 7 Wodopój Street is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 7.00 am to 3.00 pm, and on Wednesdays from 7.00 am to 4.30 pm.
• The GZDiZ Customer Service Offices at 36 Partyzantów Street are open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 7.00 am to 3.00 pm, and on Wednesdays from 7.00 am to 4.30 pm.

Access passes for the extended Restricted Access Zone will be issued for the period from 24 June to 1 September.

More information on how to obtain an IGM identifier and the application form for its issuance are available on the website www.gzdiz.gda.pl in the tab Restricted Access Zone in the City Centre

The following will not require an additional ID:

• persons holding a valid IGM ID within the permanent SOD area.
• holders of a valid Resident’s Flat-Rate Charge Card or a Business Flat-Rate Charge Card in the FGM sector.

Renovation work in the city centre

During the summer season, renovation work will be carried out in the following locations in Gdańsk city centre: Ogarna Street – further stages of the renovation – and Tobiasza Street. Any other work carried out in this area will not affect traffic arrangements.

Ogarna

Work is currently underway on the section of Ogarna Street between Słodowników Street and Pocztowa Street. This traffic arrangement is expected to remain in place until the end of the summer holidays.

The Long Coast

The pedestrian crossing will remain open during the summer holidays.

Communication with residents

Due to the disruption that may occur during the St Dominic’s Fair, an additional feature specifically designed for this event will be launched within the Gdańsk Contact Centre app. A special helpline will also be in operation Gdańsk Contact Centre, through which residents will be kept informed about the event’s progress and changes to traffic arrangements, and will be able to submit their comments there. With tourists in mind, cooperation has been established with hotels and accommodation providers located in the SOD. As part of this cooperation, these establishments have undertaken to provide their guests with information on changes to traffic arrangements and parking restrictions in the very centre of Śródmieście.