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Lvivska Brama (Kiev Metro)
Encyclopedia
Lvivska Brama is a station on the Syretsko-Pecherska Line
of the Kiev Metro
between the stations Lukianivska
, that was built but never opened.
with two stations as interim, and the whole project would be opened in late 1990s. However due to the financial offsetting that the Breakup of Soviet Union brought onto the Ukrainian economy
, which had a devastating effect on the construction of the Metro, and frequent breaks due to the lack of finances affected the quality. Another important factor was the need for the station. The station is located in the centre of the city where the density of Metro stations was already large, and inter-station distances are short. Moreover the square for which the station is named (Square of the Lviv Gateway) was (and still is) not great in importance (transport links or commercially) to justify the absolute need for the station (as opposed to Lukianisvka). Finally it was the square itself that proved to have the deciding reason, because the original location for the escalator tunnel needed altering, a disagreement arose on where it will be located. All this led to the station not opening with the first part of the Syretsky radius in 1996.
After the financial situation slowly improved towards the late 1990s, various optimistic forecasts started promising the completion of the station accurate to the opening day: 14 October 1999, 30 December 1999. However after the opening of the third station on the radius, Dorohozhychi
, most of the attention switched to other extensions and Lvivska Brama was in a way forgotten. Ironically between Dorohozhychi and Lukianivska another station was originally planned, Vulytsia Hertsena, but unlike Lvivska, only a provision was left.
At present Lvivska Brama square requires a major reconstruction and redevelopment potentially raising the area's significance for transport and certainly commerce. Once that is done the need for the station will be justified. In its present state, a period from nine months to year will be enough to fully complete the station for opening, without any disruption to the service of the line. At present Kiev City administration
is searching for an investors to fund the reconstruction of the square. However at the same time, the Kiev Metro construction (KyivMetroStroy) has other priorities, mainly the Holosiyiv radius and the Podilsko-Voskresenska Line, which are much more significant than Lvivska Brama. Nonetheless in early 2007 it has been emerged that the contractor was found. A Lviv
based Zubr ltd. company which was to rebuild the square would also be now forced to complete the station with an opening date of 2010. Construction of the station resumed in July 2008.
Syretsko-Pecherska Line
The Syretsko-Pecherska Line is third line of the Kiev Metro, first opened in 1989. It extends the metro system southeast along the right bank of the Dnieper River before crossing it on a covered bridge and then east from there. The northern section extends further northwestwards. The line is one...
of the Kiev Metro
Kiev Metro
The Kiev Metro is a metro system that is the mainstay of Kiev's public transport. It was the first rapid transit system in Ukraine and the third one built in the USSR . It now has three lines with a total length of 63.7 kilometres and 49 stations...
between the stations Lukianivska
Lukianivska (Kiev Metro)
Lukianivska is a station on Kiev Metro's Syretsko-Pecherska Line. The station was opened on December 30, 1996, as part of the first stage extension of the Syretsky radius....
, that was built but never opened.
History
Originally, upon the construction of the Syretsky radius, which began in 1990, the first stage was to consist of five stations that would open in two phases: Zoloti Vorota - Lukianivska with Lvivska Brama as interim, and then Lukianivska - SyretsSyrets (Kiev Metro)
Syrets is a Kiev Metro station on the Syretsko-Pecherska Line. Opened in 2004, it is the present northwestern terminus.Traditionally all of the Metro stations in Kiev were built in several stages including a few stations each...
with two stations as interim, and the whole project would be opened in late 1990s. However due to the financial offsetting that the Breakup of Soviet Union brought onto the Ukrainian economy
Economy of Ukraine
The economy of Ukraine is an emerging free market, with a gross domestic product that fell sharply for the first 10 years of its independence from the Soviet Union and then experienced rapid growth from 2000 until 2008...
, which had a devastating effect on the construction of the Metro, and frequent breaks due to the lack of finances affected the quality. Another important factor was the need for the station. The station is located in the centre of the city where the density of Metro stations was already large, and inter-station distances are short. Moreover the square for which the station is named (Square of the Lviv Gateway) was (and still is) not great in importance (transport links or commercially) to justify the absolute need for the station (as opposed to Lukianisvka). Finally it was the square itself that proved to have the deciding reason, because the original location for the escalator tunnel needed altering, a disagreement arose on where it will be located. All this led to the station not opening with the first part of the Syretsky radius in 1996.
After the financial situation slowly improved towards the late 1990s, various optimistic forecasts started promising the completion of the station accurate to the opening day: 14 October 1999, 30 December 1999. However after the opening of the third station on the radius, Dorohozhychi
Dorohozhychi (Kiev Metro)
Dorohozhychi is a Kiev Metro station on the Syretsko-Pecherska Line. Opened on 30 March 2000, the station represents the second extension of the Syretsky radius to the northwest....
, most of the attention switched to other extensions and Lvivska Brama was in a way forgotten. Ironically between Dorohozhychi and Lukianivska another station was originally planned, Vulytsia Hertsena, but unlike Lvivska, only a provision was left.
Today
Today the station exists as an empty carcass that can be seen from inside the trains, which slow as they pass. Both widened tunnels for the platform halls are done, however most of the passages to the central hall are still not opened, and the central hall itself is only partially bored through. The original architectural image of the station was to be on par with Lukianivska, both symbolising a break with Soviet past and a Ukrainian future. The theme for Lvivska Brama would be orientated on Western Ukraine (which would fit in with the name) consisting of sharp contrasting colour tones. The pylon portals would feature additional white vaults joining at the base of the pylons. Contrasting with this would be the black internal pylon passages. The floor will be arranged in a symmetrical cross pattern of red, white and black granite. It is unclear whether the project has been altered since, although this is unlikely.At present Lvivska Brama square requires a major reconstruction and redevelopment potentially raising the area's significance for transport and certainly commerce. Once that is done the need for the station will be justified. In its present state, a period from nine months to year will be enough to fully complete the station for opening, without any disruption to the service of the line. At present Kiev City administration
Kiev City Council
Kiev City Council or Kyivrada is the city council of Kiev municipality, the highest representative body of the city community. The members of city council are directly elected by Kievans and the council is chaired by the Mayor of Kiev .The council meets in a 1950s City Council building...
is searching for an investors to fund the reconstruction of the square. However at the same time, the Kiev Metro construction (KyivMetroStroy) has other priorities, mainly the Holosiyiv radius and the Podilsko-Voskresenska Line, which are much more significant than Lvivska Brama. Nonetheless in early 2007 it has been emerged that the contractor was found. A Lviv
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
based Zubr ltd. company which was to rebuild the square would also be now forced to complete the station with an opening date of 2010. Construction of the station resumed in July 2008.