As road repair works in Vilnius Old Town dragged on, businesses located there do not hide that they are suffering because of it. On Tuesday, after the family shoe and accessories store “Supersymmetry” located on Trakų Street in Vilnius announced its closure, eyes turned to Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas – although he claims not to see a direct connection between the ongoing works and the difficulties experienced by businesses. After the mayor’s words, F.M.Leščiauskaitė criticized the politician.
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F.M.Leščiauskaitė’s criticism
A well-known woman published her opinion on social networks that politicians often overlook the needs of businesses and even disregard them.
“In the dug-up Trakų Street in Vilnius, a shoe store is closing, Mayor Benkunskas sees no connection between the eternal repairs and the difficulties experienced by businesses.
I think that sometimes one has to suffer for the greater good, but not to see that due to poorly managed works, the entire Vokiečių Street is dying, horrifying with its former ghost shops, and Trakų Street, where you certainly won’t go for pleasant shopping or a drink anymore, is cynical.
I am not a mayor’s hater. I would even applaud some of his initiatives. However, I cannot stand cynics who have never worked in their lives to create a budget, not just implement it, but shortsightedly puff themselves up against those who create jobs and the budget.
Mayor Benkunskas, if I find correct information, has worked all his life where money is a given. If he works poorly, his salary does not decrease. Meanwhile, even employees hired by private businesses can very clearly feel the consequences of their poor work or crises. Salaries, positions, bonuses can decrease. In such places, it is more relevant to calculate whether all kinds of representation and similar expenses are meaningful.
This is not directly about Benkunskas, but also about his colleagues in the Seimas, councils, European Parliament, municipalities, and similar places. I know dentists who receive a golden brooch in a Seimas box as a gift during private visits. I myself have received Seimas, municipal cups, sweets, and other junk, because they seem free to someone, so they are ordered and distributed freely.
How is this related to the streets of Vilnius? It’s because those who don’t really need to earn a living, those who have a guaranteed budget, probably won’t understand businesses. They might still respect large ones out of fear of their influence, but they will also mock small ones. I have long observed how officials mock small businesses and individual activities.
This is very shortsighted. Every business, every individual activity means that the state needs to pay one less benefit. And that money is not taken from the budget, but put into it. Not respecting these people is disgusting. Not trying to help them is disgusting. Disregarding them, not consulting with them is disgusting.
We can tolerate street repairs. But for some, it affects them more strongly than an inconvenient passage,” writes F.M.Leščiauskaitė.
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Municipality’s response
The portal Žmonės.lt contacted Vilnius City Municipality for a comment. Indrė Naureckaitė, a media relations specialist, commented that the reconstruction of Trakų Street, where the “Supersymmetry” store that announced its closure on Tuesday was located, was planned in advance and is being carried out in several stages.
“In preparation for the reconstruction of Trakų St., municipal representatives met with both local business representatives who could be affected by the ongoing works and residents. During the meetings, the planned work progress and deadlines were presented, and attention was drawn to circumstances that could affect the duration of the works. It was emphasized that not only major street repairs would be carried out, but also modernization works of street sewage, water supply, and engineering networks. It was presented that archaeological research is also being carried out during the works in the Old Town. Such circumstances can also lead to changes in the work progress and deadlines.
We planned to complete the first stage of works by last December, but upon discovering archaeological structures – ancient street paving and masonry – we had to conduct research and stop works for 60 days. Later, due to extremely unfavorable weather conditions and frozen ground, we had to stop works and announce a technological break, which lasted until March 16. On May 11, the first stage of works was completed and traffic was opened to cars.
The schedule for the second stage of works was discussed in advance with the businesses operating here and started on May 10. We plan to complete the works in Q4. The third stage is scheduled to start on September 15 and end together with the second stage.
We can only solve problems when we know about them, so the involvement of businesses themselves is also important: participation in meetings, raising questions, and constructive feedback.
Information about the entire work process was consistently communicated to all interested parties while the project was still in the planning stage. The project team and the contractor organized direct meetings with residents and businesses, provided information via email and SMS messages, on the municipality’s website, social networks, in the media, on JUDU channels, and on information posters on Trakų Street itself. During the works, updated information about their progress, deadlines, changes in traffic and parking, the impact of archaeological research is regularly published, and responses are given to residents’ and businesses’ questions and comments.
Feedback was also taken into account when adjusting solutions – for example, after comments made by businesses in the first stage, temporary goods unloading areas were provided in the second stage. Communication was not limited to a one-time notification – it is continuous and takes place throughout the project.
After the works are completed, this part of the Old Town will become more comfortable and safer, preserving the historical uniqueness of the Old Town. Updated engineering networks will ensure more reliable water supply and wastewater management, and new infrastructure will improve conditions for pedestrians, cyclists, public transport passengers, and drivers. By reconstructing century-old water pipes, potential accidents and collapses that would require closing traffic on these streets will be avoided in the future, and an uninterrupted water supply will be ensured,” she stated in her response to Žmonės.lt.
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