Riga Resident Questions Repeat Repairs of Pier Near Akmens Bridge; City Explains the Difference

Riga's municipality plans to invest €1.7 million in several water transport development projects in the Latvian capital, including improving the 11. novembra embankment and building new temporary piers. One of the works, the renovation of the pier near Lielais Kristaps, has drawn criticism from a resident named Raimonds, who says it was already repaired in 2022.

Resident's objections

In a letter to the newspaper Latvijas Avīze, Raimonds writes that nobody understands why the pier had to be redone. He compares the situation to the Mūksala promenade and calls the works "mockery of taxpayers' money".

The municipality's explanation

Ieva Grīsle, a project coordinator in the External Communication Division of the Riga municipality's Communication Department, says that in 2022 only local restoration and repair work was carried out on the pier to prevent its condition from worsening. The current works on Pier No. 1 and the 11. novembra embankment, by contrast, are intended to adapt the infrastructure for passenger ship traffic.

The plans include replacing curbs, partially removing the surface, restoring stormwater inlets and repairing stairs. The municipality stresses that the work is being done in line with the actual condition and needs of the infrastructure.

Developing water transport

The funding approved by Riga City Council is intended for several projects. In Bolderāja and Vecmīlgrāvis, existing piers are to be used after necessary improvements, while in Bolderāja the infrastructure required for ships to dock will also be built.

The municipality believes that developing water transport could help ease traffic in Riga in the future, given the bridge repairs planned in the city.

Works already under way

Renovation has already begun on the 11. novembra and Radziņa embankments, with railings to be removed and restored in several sections. The municipality urges residents to respect the barriers and to keep away from the embankment edge where railings have been temporarily removed.