In the changing Vilnius, one thing remains stable - traffic jams. No matter what the traffic experts do, the congestion on the city streets is even increasing. Last year, one motorist spent 101 minutes and 18 seconds in the evening rush hour.
Until January 2024, 1 422 thousand were registered in Vilnius. 626 vehicles. From 2022 October 1 they increased by almost 24 thousand.
And the number of new main streets that would facilitate movement in the city did not increase.
21 traffic jams per day
Last year, 7 thousand were registered. 803 traffic congestion. Each of them lasted an average of 89 minutes. Divided by the number of days in a year, we get just over 21 jams every day.
Of course, this is not the case, it is just a statistic, because on some days there may not have been any traffic at all.
Last year, the most traffic jams in the capital were recorded on Wednesdays - 1675. There were slightly fewer on Tuesdays (1645) and Thursdays (1618).
The number of traffic jams was similar on Mondays and Fridays - 1361 and 1370. On weekends, traffic conditions are most favorable for traveling in Vilnius by car. 103 traffic jams were recorded on Saturdays and 31 on Sundays.
in 2023 the least traffic jams were in July (176) and August (306).
Vilnius is most congested in May (922 traffic jams), October (943) and November (917).
Respite - on the weekend
In Vilnius, traffic jams are divided into morning peak, evening peak and other time peak.
in 2023 the most traffic congestion was registered in the evening (3843 traffic jams). There were 3054 in the morning and 906 at other times.
According to the days of the week, the morning and evening peak traffic jams were mostly on weekdays, other time peak traffic jams also occurred on weekends, but such traffic jams were few.
Morning peak traffic jams plagued the city in all months, only in summer they were significantly less.
The morning rush hour starts at 7am. 10 minutes to 7 hours 30 min., and dissipates from 9 am to 9 am. 30 minutes
Problematic traffic arteries
Vilnius streets, where there were the most traffic jams last year:
1. Antakalnis st. (Towards the Ring of Holland) – 189 traffic jams, they lasted 100 minutes on average.
2. Gelezinio Vilko st. (toward the center Ukmergė st. towards) – 188 traffic jams lasting 95 minutes on average. Also Geležinio Vilka st. part (to the center from Ozo str. to Žalgiris st.) – 94 traffic jams, duration – 65 min.
3. Olandų st. (Towards the Ring of Holland) – 187 traffic jams lasting 108 minutes on average.
4. Pilaitė Ave. (toward the center) – 181 traffic jams lasting 98 minutes on average. In the continuation of this route, T.Narbuto st. (toward the center, up to Sēlių St.), there are already fewer - 83 traffic jams lasting 54 minutes on average. It is clear that the traffic lights at the intersection with Laisvės Ave. influence the number of traffic jams and their duration.
5. Ozo str. (Towards Ozo and Gelvonų str.) – 135 traffic jams, lasting 100 minutes on average. In the continuation of this street, Ozo st. (towards Kareivių and Kalvarijų str.) 166 traffic jams were recorded, which lasted an average of 84 minutes.
6. Molėtai pl. (toward the center, to Loksininkai St.) – 149 traffic jams, lasting 56 minutes on average.
Problems - every day
In 2023, there were 251 working days. During the summer months, the morning congestion was much less, so it can be concluded that at least the first four routes were congested almost every weekday.
And which traffic jams lasted the longest?
On May 10, the traffic jam on Gariūnai St., towards Paneriškių St., lasted for 3 hours. 40 minutes
On the same day at 3 a.m. 10 minutes the morning traffic jam continued on Ukmergės st. (towards Geležinis Vilkos st.).
There were also several traffic jams lasting after 3 hours on November 23. On that day, there were difficult weather conditions in Vilnius.
Summer evenings are quieter
The peculiarity of the evening peak traffic jams is that they are less frequent in the summer than in the mornings.
The evening rush starts at 16:16-30:17. 30 min., and ends at 18 p.m. 30 min. to XNUMX p.m. XNUMX minutes
The most congested streets in 2023:
1. Gelezinio Vilka st. (from the center towards A. Goštauto st.) - 160 traffic jams, average duration - 91 minutes. Gelezinio Vilko st. section (from the center towards Žalgiris st.) – 214 traffic jams after 115 minutes. Gelezinio Vilko st. 49 traffic jams were registered in the section (from Žalgiris St. to Ozo St.), the average duration of which is 78 minutes.
2. Kareivius st. (Towards Žirmūnai from O. Milašius St.) – 135 traffic jams that lasted an average of 101 minutes. Kareivius st. in the section (Verkių St. towards Žirmūnų St.) – 212 traffic jams lasting 125 minutes on average. Kareivius st. Kalvariju st. towards, from Verkių st. – 124 traffic jams with an average duration of 103 minutes.
3. Olandų st. (Towards the Ring of Holland) – 211 traffic jams lasting 126 minutes on average.
4. Lukiškiu str. (Towards Gynėju St.) – 202 traffic jams after 147 minutes.
5. Constitution Ave. (from the center towards T.Narbuto St.) – 195 traffic jams, lasting 122 minutes on average.
nato-ismuse-is-veziu">NATO derailed
The longest, even 780 minutes, or 12 hours, on July 11. there was a traffic jam on Gariūņu St., towards Paneriškių St. The reason is the NATO summit, which took place in Vilnius on July 11-13.
Traffic jams lasting after 5 hours were recorded several times - Savanorių pr. (Towards Račių St.) August 6, Lukiškių St. (Towards Gynėju St.) November 24, Kareivius St. (from Verkių St. towards Žirmūņu St.) on September 22, Geležinio Vilko St. (towards A. Goštauto St.) on September 15.
The average duration of evening peak congestion was the longest, just over 101 minutes. during 2023
Brake and obstacles on the road
At other times of the day, impressive traffic jams were also recorded, which were not caused by a large traffic flow, but by obstacles on the road.
The traffic jam on August 480 lasted 8 minutes, or 9 hours. Gelezinio Vilko st. (towards Ozo St.), because road repair works have started on this section of the street.
April 11 (second Easter day) traffic jam on Kareivius st. (from Žirmūnų St. towards Kalvarijų St.) continued for 7 hours. 15 minutes
Due to the road repair works in the sections of the streets of Ozo st. (from Gelvonų st. towards Kalvarijų st.) and Kareivius st. (from Žirmūnų St. towards Kalvarijų St.) drivers suffered from long-lasting traffic jams.
in 2023 on these streets, as many as 10 traffic jams lasted for 6-7 hours.
Even the lighting of the Christmas tree had gripped the city center. December 2 The traffic jam on Arsenalas, Žygimantais and T.Vrublevskis streets lasted for 3 hours in the evening. 35 minutes
December 9 Bridge st. (towards T. Vrublevskios st.) the traffic jam lasted for 5 hours. 35 min., from 13 p.m. 5 minutes until 19 p.m. 5 minutes
Car congestion in Vilnius has increased over four years
"Congestion in the city of Vilnius is formed due to underdeveloped infrastructure.
There are almost no traffic jams during the school holidays. Why? The answer is simple: Vilnius has been expanding for many years and continues to be not only expanded, but also densified in certain districts, but the infrastructure is delayed, and there is no rush to build new schools and kindergartens.
Therefore, parents take their children to schools at the other end of town.
There is a lot of emphasis on investments in bicycle paths, but capital roads also need to be invested. And it needs to be done thoughtfully, anticipating several steps ahead, not the way it is done in Vilnius.
Although there are two bypasses in Vilnius, it is difficult to get to them through city streets.
Most arterial streets do not lead to detours, but lead somewhere else. Everything was done in reverse, as if without planning that there would ever be a detour. Such planning errors lead to congestion.
I can tell you where traffic congestion will be huge and will increase in the future, - On Holland Street, Antakalnis, Žirmūnai rings.
Because the city is expanding to the south, but the transport infrastructure is not expanding accordingly.
It's only a matter of time when all these arteries will be blocked and the streets will become impassable", comments Žygymantas Mauricas, Chief Economist of Luminor Bank.
Author: Viktoras Žvinys, "Lietuvos rytas" "Capital"
