Third day of traffic jams on Varvarivskyi Bridge: police say repairs and potholes are slowing traffic

Traffic jams in front of the Varvarivskyi Bridge in the direction of the city entrance, 16 February. Photo: Alla Bozhko

In Mykolaiv, large traffic jams regularly form in front of the Varvarivskyi Bridge, especially in the morning and evening. City residents report traffic problems caused by road repairs and potholes that appeared after winter.

As explained by the patrol police in a comment to NikVesti, repairs are being carried out on one of the three lanes, which significantly limits the bridge's capacity.

City council deputy Alla Vorobiova noted that traffic jams on the Varvarivskyi Bridge complicate the movement of ambulances and public transport, making travel difficult. She also appealed to the patrol police of the Mykolaiv region to organise the passage of freight transport at 15-20 minute intervals at the entrance to the city, near the village of Vesniane, in order to avoid traffic jams.

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«And again there is a traffic jam, and again ambulances and public transport cannot get through! For the third day in a row, there have been huge traffic jams on the Pivdenobuzkyi Bridge (Varvarivskyi). I am not raising the issue of the three-year repair of the bridge, and it is unclear how long it will continue. I am submitting a deputy's request to the patrol police of the Mykolaiv region with a request to organise a patrol group that would allow freight transport to pass at 15-20 minute intervals at the entrance to the city near the village of Vesniane in order to avoid traffic jams,» she wrote in a comment.

According to patrol police spokesman Vitalii Dushko, the problem is exacerbated by potholes that appeared after frosts in areas where the road surface is already worn out. Drivers are forced to brake, which slows down traffic and creates traffic jams, especially during rush hour.

«We have three lanes there, and repairs are currently being carried out on only one of them. This is emergency repair work, approved by the patrol police department, as the bridge is part of an international route. The problem is not an increase in accidents, but the fact that the narrow artery cannot cope with the large flow of traffic. If a driver slows down in front of a pothole, this automatically slows down other vehicles,» said patrol police spokesman Vitalii Dusko.

Due to traffic jams near the Varvarivskyi Bridge, ambulances cannot get through. Photo: Alla Vorobiova

Due to traffic jams near the Varvarivskyi Bridge, ambulances cannot pass. Photo: Alla Vorobiova

He added that several potholes had formed on the road on the Varvarivka side. Orders have already been issued to the Infrastructure Restoration and Development Service in the Mykolaiv region to repair them.

«The orders were issued by the road safety department to the owner of this section of the road. They have 10 days to fix the problems, and if they don't meet the deadline, a report will be filed,» explained Vitalii Dusko.

Patrol officers constantly monitor the section, in particular through the Safe City camera system, and regulate traffic manually if necessary.

«If necessary, a crew is dispatched to the site, and large trucks are stopped, informed about traffic jams and advised to stop and wait temporarily to avoid a complete collapse,» added the press secretary.

Traffic jams on the approach to the city near the Varvarivskyi Bridge. Drivers are stuck in queues due to repairs and potholes. Photo: Traffic accidents and roads in Mykolaiv and the region

Traffic jams on the approach to the city near the Varvarivskyi Bridge. Drivers are stuck in queues due to repairs and potholes. Photo: Traffic accidents and roads in Mykolaiv and the region

Repairs to the Varvarivskyi Bridge in Mykolaiv have been ongoing for several years. From September 2024 to December 2025, 46.3 million hryvnias were spent on the work, and in 2024, 44 million hryvnias were spent on repairing the bridge.

Due to repair work and deformation of metal plates on the bridge's extension, significant traffic jams formed on 22 April 2025 on the approach from Varvarivka. Vitalii Dushko, press officer for the Mykolaiv region patrol police, explained that such deformations occur periodically and affect traffic.

The Mykolaiv Region Infrastructure Restoration and Development Service planned to spend 54.4 million hryvnias on repairing part of the Varvarivskyi Bridge. The work is to be completed by the end of December 2026.