Construction workers began bricking up a pedestrian underpass on Targowa Street in Warsaw on Wednesday, April 22nd, following a police operation.
Police Action Prompts Closure
The underground passage under Targowa Street in Warsaw’s Praga-Północ district is being closed. The day after a police and tax administration raid, construction workers, accompanied by city guards, began sealing the tunnel entrances.
Work commenced on the morning of Wednesday, April 22nd. Around 10:00 AM, a construction crew was on-site, along with city guards, and the passage was already cordoned off. Warsaw Road Management (ZDM) stated that bricks would replace temporary barriers, with plans for complete infilling of the tunnel in the future.
Complete Closure Expected Wednesday
As of approximately 6:00 PM, work continued. Workers stated the passage would be fully closed and bricked up on April 22nd, with city guards present during the work.
Illegal Activities Discovered
Tuesday’s operation by law enforcement directly led to today’s actions. Following the securing of pavilions within the passage, ZDM initiated the closure of the underground area itself.
One of the pavilions reportedly housed an illegal club offering narcotics and gambling machines. City Councilor Krzysztof Michalski reported seven arrests and the seizure of 32 machines on social media.
Passage’s Declining Use and Prior Plans
The passage had been losing its communicative importance for years. The tunnel connecting Okrzei and Ząbkowska Streets was largely avoided by pedestrians after the establishment of a surface-level crossing on Targowa Street.
Plans to eliminate the underground passages at this intersection were announced as early as 2022, during the presentation of concepts for changes to Ząbkowska Street as part of the Praski Trakt Książęcy project.
If construction schedules hold, April 22nd marked the final day of the passage’s existence in its current form. The city swiftly moved to physically cut off access to the tunnel following Tuesday’s law enforcement action.
