Bridge Not for Everyone: Klitschko Turns Shulyavka Interchange into a Dump (Photos)

The Shulyavsky overpass in Kyiv, which collapsed in February 2017, has been "under reconstruction" for eight years now. Even before 2020, a new modern transport interchange was supposed to be built there, but during this time, the Kyiv authorities managed to restore only vehicle traffic, promoting it as a significant achievement. The cost of the interchange has significantly increased — from 599 million to 2.45 billion UAH, yet the quality of the work continues to raise concerns.

The company "Northern Ukrainian Construction Alliance," which is linked to Vitaliy Klitschko's long-time friend, former Kyiv City Council deputy from the UDAR party and ex-president of the "Ukrbud" corporation, Maksym Mykytas, was supposed to carry out the bridge reconstruction based on the results of a tender held in 2018. In 2019, the Antimonopoly Committee accused the company of collusion and fined it a multi-million sum. Later, the prosecutor's office filed a lawsuit demanding the termination of the contract between Kyiv and the company and the return of the advance payments made to it.

The Economic Court of Kyiv declared invalid the decision to announce LLC "Northern Ukrainian Construction Alliance" as the winner of the tender, as well as the agreement signed with it due to gross violations that, by the way, the customer — KP "Directorate for Construction of Road and Transport Facilities" — had previously overlooked. At the same time, the prosecutor's office is demanding that the developer, "Northern Ukrainian Construction Alliance," return 1.1 billion UAH received from the city. The appeal hearing for this case is scheduled for January 29, 2025.

By the way, the tender for the demolition of the building of the former "Bolshevik" factory, which obstructs the construction of the interchange and was a major stumbling block for the entire project, was only announced in December 2024. Consequently, it is virtually impossible to predict when the reconstruction of the bridge will be fully completed.

Meanwhile, "Telegraph" decided to investigate the current state of the Shulyavsky Bridge and whether the Kyiv authorities have fulfilled at least one of their promises regarding the construction — concerning accessibility for people with limited mobility. This refers to ensuring inclusivity, which is mandatory when constructing or reconstructing transport infrastructure facilities in the capital.

Kyiv's Inclusivity, or What Santa Claus...

It took the Kyiv authorities almost three years to partially repair the Shulyavsky overpass after its collapse. It was opened in December 2019 by Vitaliy Klitschko himself, dressed as Santa Claus. At the inauguration, the mayor boasted that "the most modern technologies" were used during the bridge's reconstruction and promised that "by summer, it would be fully opened with exits and all interchanges". Interestingly, Klitschko did not specify which summer he meant when all the promised interchanges would be built on the bridge.

In May 2023, Klitschko again promised to complete the work "by summer" — but now in 2024. "By mid-2024, all construction and reconstruction work on the Shulyavsky overpass must be completed. And the interchange will be fully operational", — the mayor stated. It is clear that neither in 2020 nor in 2024 were the promises kept.

Moreover, while in the guise of Santa Claus, Klitschko promised, using the Shulyavsky Bridge as an example, that the city hall "would do everything to make life for Kyiv residents more comfortable and for every resident of our city to be proud to live in the best city in the world".

In light of all the mayor's aforementioned statements, "Telegraph" decided to check whether today, in January 2025, the Shulyavsky Bridge, as the mayor claims, is "comfortable" for every Kyiv resident. For instance, can people in wheelchairs use it? By the way, the Kyiv authorities constantly declare that all transport infrastructure facilities in the capital undergoing repairs or reconstruction will necessarily consider inclusivity issues.

"During the reconstruction and major repairs of all transport infrastructure facilities and, in particular, at the stages of design and implementation of such facilities, it is mandatory to create conditions for unobstructed access for persons with disabilities and other groups with limited mobility", — states one of the official statements from the Kyiv City State Administration.

Photo Facts

So, the entrance to the pedestrian part of the bridge from the "Shulyavska" metro station greets those wishing to cross it with exposed rebar aimed at their feet. On the opposite side, there is a cluster of concrete structures that, judging by the surrounding debris, have been lying there for years. It is clear that there is no ramp for wheelchair users even nearby.

However, even if there were a ramp, it would hardly help people in wheelchairs. The current design of the pedestrian part is such that it is sometimes difficult for even one person to pass through, let alone a wheelchair user or cyclist.

When two people meet on the bridge, one of them has to squeeze against the railings to let the other pass.

Another striking sign of "care for Kyiv residents" on the Shulyavsky Bridge is the litter. It is abundant primarily behind the fence under the bridge, which protects the area of potential construction. But there is also plenty on the spans of the overpass.

And the improperly secured railings and makeshift supports are probably examples of the "modern technologies" Vitaliy Klitschko mentioned.

In conclusion, the Shulyavsky Bridge, despite the promises made by the city hall, is currently absolutely uncomfortable and clearly inaccessible for people with limited mobility. Perhaps inclusivity will be considered during the actual reconstruction of the bridge, but judging by current circumstances, that is still a long way off. First, it is necessary to "recover" funds from the unscrupulous contractor "Northern Ukrainian Construction Alliance," against which bankruptcy proceedings are currently open.

Moreover, it is not a given that even upon receiving the funds, the Kyiv authorities will not choose to spend them on yet another pedestrian PR bridge project. After all, in Kyiv, it has long been no surprise to anyone with the strange priorities of local authorities regarding such infrastructure decisions.

"Non-standard" Priorities

Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko and his subordinates constantly demonstrate, to put it mildly, rather illogical approaches in the field of bridge construction. For instance, when instead of putting vital transport structures in order, the Kyiv authorities opt for the construction of new "entertainment" pedestrian bridges.

Thus, in 2017, just when the Shulyavsky Bridge collapsed "from fatigue", the city hall, instead of directing all efforts and resources to its restoration, pompously announced the construction of the Glass Bridge at Volodymyrska Hill. "Klitschko's Bridge," as it is now called, consumed a significant amount of municipal funds, yet it was built at a rapid pace in less than a year. Meanwhile, the saga of the Shulyavsky Bridge continues to this day.

The same applies to other truly important Kyiv bridges: for years, the Paton Bridge has been crumbling. The Metro Bridge is in a permanently emergency state (by the way, work there did finally begin, but only a few months ago). The pedestrian section of the Vozduhoflotsky overpass is falling onto the heads of Kyiv residents, which was supposedly repaired only a few years ago…

Meanwhile, the "Wave Bridge" appears in Obolon, for the construction of which, along with the development of the adjacent area, hundreds of millions of municipal hryvnias are spent, simultaneously destroying, according to environmentalists, rare flora.

Recently, Klitschko made headlines again with another unconventional engineering idea — to build a bridge in the protected area of the Old Kyiv Hill. This "very necessary" bridge for Kyiv residents is supposed to connect with the Landscape Alley another "very necessary" structure — a parking lot in the city