Work will begin on the front side of the Town Hall, and then utility workers will tackle the other sides. Part of the uneven pavers will be removed, sanded and returned. All works will be carried out at the expense of Ukrainian and foreign benefactors.
It is planned to start setting up a space for the unhindered movement of groups with reduced mobility on Rynok Square already this month.
“I have repeatedly witnessed people in wheelchairs moving around Rynok Square on our cobblestones, and I was simply ashamed, because it was agony. In the same way, a person who walks on crutches and becomes uneven – this causes crazy problems. I want the current decision of the executive committee to start this work.
Unfortunately, we cannot do such work with budget funds, only with grant funds. But we have Ukrainian and international benefactors who are ready to help us. Also, I think it is important to contact international organizations that deal with issues of inclusiveness and find those who are ready to support us,” said Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy.
“Currently, Rynok Square has a partially inclusive surface, it was installed back in 2015. However, it does not follow a continuous lane, but is interrupted at intersections, as well as a tram track, which is not at all convenient for people with reduced mobility: both for parents with children in strollers and for people who move around in a wheelchair.
Following the example of European cities, we plan to install barrier-free paths in the central part of Lviv on Rynok Square. They will be located without gaps throughout the square, including crossings over the tram tracks and barrier-free entrance to the Town Hall. Therefore, we will add a system of transitions to the existing surface, which will provide a single network of accessible lanes on Rynok Square,” said the chief architect of Lviv, Anton Kolomeytsev.
The Department of Architecture and Urbanism noted that, taking into account the norms of inclusivity, the paths will be 1.5-1.8 m wide, and their total area will be 1.7 thousand square meters. However, they assure that interventions in the infrastructure will be minimal: part the existing mosaic within these strips will only be replaced with smooth granite tiles. And the black historic basalt mosaic will remain – it will be bridged in the context of guide lines.
All work on the reconstruction of Rynok Square for the needs of people with reduced mobility will be carried out exclusively at the expense of sponsors. The cost of the first stage of work is UAH 3.7 million. And the total cost of the project is UAH 6.5 million. The renovation of the square will continue until the end of 2023.