The Riga City Council is considering a complete halt of private vehicle traffic on the Cable-Stayed Bridge during upcoming major repairs, according to Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs. While a final decision is pending, Kleinbergs told the TV3 program “900 sekundes” that the most likely scenario involves closing the bridge to private cars while maintaining access for emergency vehicles and public transport.
Did You Know? The reconstruction contract was awarded to the “Vanšu tilts” consortium for 69.8 million euros, excluding VAT.
Project Scope and Construction Timeline
Large-scale construction is not expected to begin until the end of next year, which Kleinbergs stated provides the city time to refine the traffic scheme. The project operates under a “design and build” principle, placing responsibility for both design and construction on a single contractor.
The scope of work includes replacing cables and updating the road surface. The project will also establish pedestrian zones and modern cycling infrastructure, alongside repairs to fences and other structures.
Proposed Traffic Mitigation and Park & Ride Zones
To prevent congestion on the city’s road network, the municipality plans to implement temporary Park & Ride parking on both sides of the Daugava River. This would allow drivers to leave their vehicles and switch to public transport.
Potential locations currently under consideration include:
- The Olimpia shopping center and the former House of Press
- The BT1 exhibition complex in Kipsala
- The Ministry of Agriculture in Pardaugava
- The Spice shopping center parking lot
Data Collection and Business Impact Analysis
The city is currently analyzing how these repairs could affect business operations. According to Kleinbergs, the municipality plans to begin collecting anonymized data on resident movements this fall to inform the final transportation decisions.
A special working group is managing the preparations and providing regular progress reports to the leadership of the Riga City Council. City authorities have promised to release a detailed traffic plan to residents before the work begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will still have access to the bridge during repairs?
Public transport and emergency vehicles will still be able to use the bridge, according to Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs.
What is the total cost of the reconstruction?
The consortium “Vanšu tilts” proposed to carry out the work for 69.8 million euros, excluding VAT.
When will the main construction work start?
According to the mayor, large-scale construction work will not begin until the end of next year.
How would a total closure of the Cable-Stayed Bridge affect your daily commute?
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