Kleinbergs: Temporary Bridge During Vanšu Bridge Repairs Could Stand on the Seaward Side
Riga City Council chairman Viesturs Kleinbergs said a temporary bridge during the Vanšu Bridge reconstruction could be placed seaward of the existing bridge, though the location is not final. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said state co-financing would depend on several factors.
Viesturs Kleinbergs, chairman of Riga City Council, said in a TV3 interview on Tuesday that a temporary bridge during repairs of the Vanšu Bridge could be placed on the seaward side of the existing structure. He stressed that the location remains an open question. The Vanšu Bridge crosses the Daugava in Riga, and the city wants an additional traffic solution while it is rebuilt.
Kleinbergs said a temporary bridge as a partial answer to traffic problems is a very real possibility. He pointed to a tender currently run by state road company Latvijas valsts ceļi (LVC) for prefabricated bridge structures. LVC's existing contract with Austria's Waagner-Biro Bridge Systems covers the delivery of new modular bridge spans totalling 360 metres, while the Daugava is wider at this location. In the mayor's view, the necessary components could be manufactured by next autumn and installed before intensive repair work begins.
In parallel, 55 Riga intersections are being assessed, along with ways to change traffic organisation and capacity there, so that traffic flows more smoothly at Daugava crossings during the repairs.
Costs and the state's role
The main reconstruction work is planned to start in 2027. Plans so far foresee one lane in each direction, and such a bridge would cost around 20 million euros. It was previously said it could also serve civil-military needs nationwide. Kleinbergs earlier promised to discuss sharing the costs with the finance minister and the prime minister.
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs told the media the temporary bridge is an "out-of-the-box" idea, but state co-financing would depend on several aspects. He said that, superficially, further use of such a bridge seemed a good idea if possible.
The reconstruction project
The reconstruction tender was won by the supplier consortium "Vanšu tilts" with an offer of 69.8 million euros excluding VAT. Funding needed is up to 6.7 million euros in 2026, up to 42 million in 2027 and up to 35.76 million in 2028. The project includes restoring the roadway asphalt, building a separated pedestrian zone and cycling infrastructure, and replacing the stay cables.
