An alternative option for the construction of the first stage of the Troieshchyna subway

Kyiv has found itself in a situation where, with the number of cars constantly increasing, new metro  stations are not being built and old ones are gradually being closed. Experts and civic activists are trying  to draw the authoritie’s attention to the need to develop the subway infrastructure.

On November 13, 2023, the Public Council at the Kyiv City State Administration held a meeting at the  initiative of the Public Council at the Dniprovskyi District State Administration in Kyiv, which supported  and approved an alternative option for the construction of the first phase of the Troieschyna  subway. The alternative project was presented by Oleksandr Belyaev, an expert of the Public Council of  the Dniprovskyi District State Administration on Kyiv Transport Infrastructure, chief specialist of  Kyivmetrobud with 36 years of experience in subway construction in Kyiv.

According to Belyaev, in connection with the emergency situation in the subway tunnels near Demiivska  station, which were laid in the area of underground rivers – tributaries of the Lybida, an even more  critical emergency situation may arise during the construction and operation of subway tunnels under  the Raiduha Lake near Rusanivski Sady, according to the existing version of the construction of the 4th  subway line. This construction may also lead to a violation of environmental stability under the lake and  in the territory of the state reserve around the lake, which is a protected area under Ukrainian law. In  addition, the construction of such tunnels requires special sealed tunneling shield complexes with  hydraulic support, which are not available in Ukraine.

Alternative option

In order to avoid the above risks and problems, the alternative option proposes not to dig tunnels under  the Rainbow Lake, but to turn them to the left at Rusanivski Sady towards Troyeshchyna. To do this, on  the outskirts of the Rayduzhnyi massif, near the Troyeshchyna high-speed tram line, we are building a  shallow (up to 20 meters) metro station, and a tram transfer station next to it. From the Rayduzhna station, we are tunneling underground using Kyivmetrobud’s panel systems designed for such work and  connecting them to the tunnels built in Rusanivski Sady.

«Four rows of brown-sheared piles, which are made according to the existing version for laying straight  tunnels between them in the very water-saturated and unstable soils of Rusanovsky Gardens, which is  very problematic during the construction and operation of tunnels. We use these piles as a necessary  support base for the construction of straight tunnels on the ground surface of the gardens. To do this, we  build reinforced concrete slabs at ground level, resting on the piles, along the entire length of the  rows. This base must withstand the load of the embankment soil above the tunnels and the load of the  highway’s vehicles, and not sink in the weak soils of the gardens. On this solid base, we lay straight  tunnels on the ground surface to the location of a possible small additional depot between the Central  Street of the gardens and the railroad embankment. If it is not possible to build such a depot, a  maintenance facility (MFT) to Central Street can be constructed on the slabs of these piles under the  future highway embankment of the gardens. A depot or a maintenance facility is necessary for the  maintenance and repair of the Phase I metro trains», — Belyaev suggests.

In Podil, we are also completing the construction of the Podil bridge crossing over the Harbor. We are  building tunnels and the Podilska station with a transfer to the Shevchenko station using the open  method. We use three stations of the bridge crossing for emergency disembarkation of passengers,  according to the «Rules». The first stage of the Troyeshchyna subway from Rayduzhna to Podilska is  ready for commissioning. We are turning Troyeshchyna’s tram into a truly high-speed one, and  Troyeshchyna’s passengers will be able to get into the city’s subway system.

«Our option makes it possible to separate the construction of the subway and the road overpass at  Rusanivski Sady with a road interchange behind the railway embankment. This separation will  significantly speed up the completion of construction for the full launch of the Podil bridge crossing. The  alternative option gives the prospect of further construction of the 4th and 5th left-bank subway  lines, an automobile overpass from Brovarskyi Avenue through Podil Bridge Crossing to Podil, as well as  an automobile tunnel between Podil and Chornovil Avenue. The existing version does not provide for the  5th Left Bank Metro Line, but only a branch of the 4th Metro Line to Troyeschyna», — Belyaev suggests.

Unfortunately, Kyiv still does not have a finalized and agreed upon concept for the future construction  and development of the subway. Therefore, the Public Council at the Kyiv City State Administration  proposed that the KCSA instruct Kyiv’s specialized organizations to conduct a design study of the  alternative option to compare it with the existing option and adjust the feasibility study of the project for the construction of the 4th subway line. It is also proposed to take into account this alternative option  when adjusting the Kyiv Development Master Plan.

Background of the issue

On the afternoon of December 8, 2023, Kyiv residents found themselves in a new transport reality when,  by the strong-willed decision of Mayor Vitali Klitschko, they were left without six metro stations –  the metro stations from Demiivska to Teremky were closed for urgent repairs. For about six months. The  reason was the flooding of the subway tracks due to a breach in the tunnel’s sealing. 

In 2019, residents of the capital’s Rayduzhnyi neighborhood, with the help of Kyiv City Council  members, organized public hearings on the future of the construction of the left-bank part of the  Podilsko-Voskresenskyi Bridge. As a result of the discussion, three issues were put to the delegates of the  hearing, which can be summarized as follows: 1) to support the project adjustment proposed by the community and make appropriate changes to the overpass construction project; 2) to support the  initiative to preserve Radunka Lake and the adjacent recreation area within the existing boundaries; 3)  to recognize the results of the public hearings as valid. Out of 236 registered delegates, 158 supported  the first question, 159 supported the second, and 162 supported the third.

Some time later, public hearings were held by residents of Mykilska Slobidka, where they have only  gotten acquainted with the plans to hold a congress on their side, which caused outrage among the  locals. And they, like the residents of Rayduzne, do not want to see the traffic interchange on their side.

At that time, we also considered an alternative version of the overpass to better meet the growing needs of Kyiv residents.