A video shot by Astana resident Arman Abdenov is going viral on Kazakh social media. The blogger called the situation the “absurdity of the year” and showed heavy machinery preparing to drive piles for the supports of the future LRT line right in the center of the capital on Syganak Street. This comes just a couple of months after extensive road works were completed here, including fresh asphalt, paving stones, and newly planted trees, reports infohub.kz.
“Guys, this is just absurd! Why did you lay new asphalt this summer? There were terrible traffic jams, but everything was done beautifully, improved. We enjoyed it for a maximum of two months... And now there’s a pile-driving machine that will drive piles right down the middle! Why? I’m speechless,” Arman said emotionally.
The city administration responded quickly to the social media uproar and tried to reassure residents that everything is under control and that no money is being wasted.
The akimat explained that the fresh pavement on the section from Kabanbay Batyr to the Arys Bridge was laid for the safety and comfort of drivers. The LRT construction will go exactly along the median strip, so the new asphalt will not be affected at all. However, the trees will have to be relocated.
“In connection with the construction work, 39 existing green spaces on the section of Syganak Street from the last LRT support to the intersection of Syganak and Kabanbay Batyr streets will be temporarily transplanted,” the department said.
The akimat also noted that the LRT is a massive project and it would be impossible to build it without temporary inconveniences on the roads.
Earlier, CTS revealed new details about the construction of the LRT in Kosshy. No new depot will be built to service the new light rail line from Astana to the city of Kosshy in the Akmola region.