In 2016, the construction of the Łódź Fabryczna station began, which brought with it more railway connections and more frequent train crossings via Widzewska Street. However, the message seemed to mean that the earlier communication solution was no longer valid: the roadway, the pavement and the tracks protected by the ground. The alternatives discussed from the beginning of the task were the underground tunnel or footbridge over the tracks. Due to the requirements of the railway company PKP Polish Railway Lines closed the street for vehicles and pedestrians during the construction of the station.
Even before implementing plans to cut off pedestrians and vehicles, the thought of the city authorities seemed very controversial. many protests were held on Widzewska Street. Michał Kwiatkowski, a typical of the council of the close Sikawa-Podgórze settlement, appealed: “Most residents usage schools and clinics on the another side of the tracks. You are going to cut off a immense 4th from the city.” "Railway Market" pointed out that specified a decision would shift the full traffic around to Nichiarnia Street, which would mean traffic jams and, in the event of collision or drowning, could have tragic consequences.
2025: Current state
All of this was easy to predict, and it turned out to be true. To this day, residents of the settlement go through the tracks illegally, endangering wellness and life to get to the another side.
In 2022, even a fatal accident occurred at the crossing. Unfortunately, the risky crossing of the tracks is frequently tempting in the absence of time or strength, as the best alternate is to walk to the already mentioned Nichiarnia Street, far away, and sometimes to go back along the tracks. The Nigger herself cannot withstand all the traffic that has fallen upon her and is frequently impenetrable.
Since the closure of Widzewska Street, local residents have not lost hope, which was fueled by the promises of the City Hall and PKP PLK. Already in 2016, the railway company agreed to build a pedestrian tunnel and bicycles, and its manager described circumstantial construction plans. In 2017, a message appeared on the City Hall website about plans to tender for the task and construction of an underground passage under the tracks and a promise to complete the work by 2019. In 2022, according to PKP spokesman, Polish Railway Lines and the City Office signed an agreement in which the city listed the task of crossing Widzewska Street for pedestrians and bicycles among projects to be implemented.
In 2024, a typical of the City Hall spoke about the ready-made task of foot-and-rolling over the tracks. As you can see, there have been many plans and promises over the years, but there have been no actual actions.
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Why won't the city do anything about it?
The reasons for this inaction, given by the Road and Transport Administration, are: “All these investments are immense for the city budget... Let's besides have plans for the advanced velocity Railway that will greatly change this infrastructure," says the City Hall spokesman, referring to the task of building a railway tunnel for the CPK, which would go across Widzewska Street.
However, the problem of decoupling the inhabitants of the tracks is burning and has been requiring action for years. It is not limited to Widzewska Street.
The same can be said of close chaotic passages, for example via Henrykowska Street, where local residents are frequently forced to cross the tracks illegally.
Stepping the footpath through the tracks at Henrykowska Street, photograph by Anna ŻyznowskaThis year the Minister of Infrastructure promised to make a passage through Henrykowska Street, either in the form of a footbridge over the tracks or an underground tunnel. In the case of Widzewska Street, there are presently no empty promises. What the actual destiny of Henrykowska Street and Widzewska Street will prove – we will see.
