Reconstruction of Jelgava's Lithuania Highway overpass to start, costing €5.26 million
Reconstruction of the Lithuania Highway railway overpass in Jelgava begins on 13 October, with a total cost of €5.26 million. Traffic will be restricted during the works, and the whole project is due to finish by June 2028.
Reconstruction of the Lithuania Highway overpass above the railway in Jelgava, Latvia, is set to begin on Tuesday, 13 October. According to "Pilsētsaimniecība", the city municipality's maintenance agency, two of the four traffic lanes will be closed between the Pasta Street roundabout and Savienības Street while work is under way. The total cost of the project is €5.26 million, and it will affect one of the city's key traffic routes.
Traffic restrictions
The lanes in the direction of Riga will be rebuilt first. During this stage, the opposite side of the overpass will carry one lane in each direction. Vehicles will be allowed to cross at up to 30 kilometres per hour. Pedestrian traffic on the Riga side will be closed, and pedestrians will be redirected to the other side of the overpass. Drivers should expect slower traffic and extra travel time, especially during morning and evening hours and at weekends.
Why the work is needed
The municipality says regular inspections found that the technical condition of the overpass has deteriorated. One of the main problems is water seeping into the structures, which damages them over time. The overpass was built in 1979 and is used by about 16,000 vehicles a day, including roughly 2,300 trucks and buses. It has been repaired several times before to limit damage to its load-bearing structures.
Scope and deadlines
The works will restore the overpass structures, waterproofing and road surface, improve and widen pedestrian walkways, upgrade safety solutions, replace lighting poles and rebuild the rainwater drainage system. Landscaping of the surrounding area is also planned.
Work on the Riga side of the overpass is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2027, while the entire reconstruction is intended to be finished by June 2028. The project is funded equally by the Ministry of Transport and Jelgava municipality.
The construction design was prepared by SIA "Projekts 3", the works will be carried out by the partnership "SMA-Viadukts", and construction supervision will be provided by SIA "Geo Consultants".
