Regional Official Demands Police Intervention as Heavy Lorry Traffic Paralyzes Mykolaiv’s Varvarivskyi Bridge

Regional Council member Alla Vorobiova demands police action as heavy lorries block the Varvarivskyi Bridge, preventing emergency services and residents from moving.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 13, 2026, 6:13 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from NikVesti

Morning Gridlock Threatens Public Safety

The transit infrastructure in Mykolaiv’s Varvarivka neighborhood is facing a critical failure as heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) continue to overwhelm local roads during peak hours. Residents have reported consistent traffic jams on Veselynivska Street, stretching toward the Varvarivskyi Bridge between 07:00 and 09:00. This congestion has reportedly created hazardous road conditions and, most critically, obstructed the passage of ambulances and other emergency service vehicles. The localized gridlock has reached a point where citizens are unable to reach workplaces and schools on time, prompting a formal intervention from regional leadership.

Legislative Shifts in Freight Entry Hours

The current crisis follows a controversial decision by the Mykolaiv City Council executive committee in November 2025 to reduce the hours during which freight vehicles are restricted from entering the city. Previously, a ban was in effect from 06:00 to 09:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00. However, new traffic management schemes moved the restriction to a narrower window of 08:00 to 10:00. Regional Council member Alla Vorobiova argues that this change, combined with a lack of enforcement, has allowed a dangerous concentration of lorries to enter the city via the M-14 motorway exactly when civilian traffic is at its peak.

Violations of Bridge Weight Restrictions

Beyond the timing of entries, the structural integrity of the Varvarivskyi Bridge remains a primary concern for local officials. Current regulations strictly prohibit vehicles weighing over 20 tonnes or with an axle load exceeding 7 tonnes from using the bridge. Despite these prohibitions and the installation of new road signs, Vorobiova’s appeal notes that heavy lorries continue to breach these regulations with impunity. The failure to maintain these weight limits not only contributes to the daily traffic jams but also risks further damaging an essential piece of infrastructure that has already undergone millions of hryvnias in repairs.