The reconstruction of „Leninova” has entered its second-to-last phase. A new layer of asphalt has been laid on the roundabout at the junction with „Orce Nikolov”, and a second layer is under way on the stretch from „Partizanski odredi” boulevard to the „Ilindenska” junction - 412 metres.

Until Friday a special traffic regime applies in Debar Maalo, from 8am to 4pm, on the section from „8 Mart” to „Kosta Veselinov”, by the roundabout up to „Hempro”. Centar municipality is urging drivers to follow the temporary signage.

What has been done so far

New pavements have been built on both sides of the street, 825 metres in total. Drains and street manholes have been raised and levelled, new kerbs laid, and the public lighting network is being renewed in parallel. The final phase brings new greenery, partly in planters.

The second section runs for over 600 metres - from „Partizanski odredi” boulevard to the building of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management. Work began in April and was split into several phases so traffic could partly keep moving during construction. The first section was reconstructed in 2023.

The roundabout stays

Centar municipality says the roundabout at „Orce Nikolov” stays as a permanent solution, because it contributed to a reduction in traffic accidents at that location.

That is a claim that deserves to be checked with numbers, not merely repeated. Roundabouts really do reduce serious collisions - that is confirmed in many places around the world. The question is whether the municipality has before-and-after data for this specific junction, or is using the general rule as a local conclusion.

Three years, two sections

Mayor Goran Gerasimovski said this rounds off the redevelopment of „Leninova” as one of the municipality's key roads, aimed at safer and more efficient traffic for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

The rounding-off has been going on since 2023. This is one street in one municipality, split into sections, phases and temporary regimes, spread across three construction seasons. For the residents of Debar Maalo it has meant three summers of cut-off access - and one more, until Friday.

The final phase is still to come: remaining construction work, renewal of the lighting and planting of the promised greenery. Until then, „Leninova” is a street in phase - which here, unfortunately, is a perfectly normal state of affairs.