Central Belgrade streets closed to traffic

N1 staff reported traffic jams on Monday with long lines of cars moving slowly towards the centre of the city.  

Some trolleybus lines have been discontinued and others will end at Slavija Square with just two bus lines allowed on Terazije Square. Other bus lines will be re-routed to avoid Republic Square.  

The reconstruction of Republic Square has drawn protests from both the opposition and local residents with Alliance for Serbia activists blocking a central street leading to the square with bags of salt over the weekend and criminal charges filed over the project. Deputy Mayor Goran Vesic announced counter-charges against the activists for blocking traffic.  

The closing of central city streets was justified by City Traffic Secretaty Dusan Rafailovic who said that projects like the reconstruction of the square required changes to traffic. He said the city authorities would do everything possible to restore regular traffic by September 1.