A tram route that was stopped due to the slippage of Blazhka descent has been restarted in Odesa

The North-South tram route No. 7 reopened on September 2 after a long break caused by a landslide and deformation of the track on Blazhka Descent (formerly Marineska).

This was reported by the press service of the Odesa municipality.

The route provides a direct connection between the most remote areas of the city - from 28th Brigade Street to the 11th station of Lustdorf Road, covers more than 120 stops and carried up to 70,000 passengers daily before the suspension of operations.

The mayor's office also reported that the repairs on Blazhka Descent have been completed, all tests have been carried out, and 13 new multi-section trams purchased in cooperation with the European Investment Bank will start running tomorrow.

Also, starting from September 2, the tram on route No. 3, which ran according to the scheme, stopped running: "11th station of Lustdorf Road - Pastera Street". Vehicular traffic on the descent resumed in July.

In the late spring of 2023, it became known that the newly repaired Blazhka Descent was shifting toward Prymorska Street. In particular, the tram tracks were deformed, which led to the termination of the North-South route.

After that, traffic on the descent was restricted. In January 2024, the Odesa City Hall decided to repair a section of the tramway on Vitalii Blazhko Descent. Odesmiskelectrotrans was appointed as the repair customer.

In October of the same year, the Capital Construction Department of the Odesa City Council held an open tender with a special provision for the construction of a new drainage system for the descent, and Rostdorstroy was the only participant. The company then agreed to work for UAH 37 million 834.2 thousand. The ultimate beneficiaries of Rostdorstroy LLC are currently Yuriy Shumacher, a deputy of the Odesa City Council and a representative of Hennadiy Trukhanov's Trust the Deeds party, and businessman Yevhen Konovalov.

The same company was repairing the slope before the landslide. In particular, from September 17, 2019, to December 31, 2020, the company completed the repairs and received UAH 68 million 698 thousand 139 for them. However, in December 2020, the company was allocated another UAH 3 million 512 thousand 356 for additional work under a negotiation procedure, i.e. without an auction.

Кирило Бойко