Reconstruction of Dzirnavu Street in Riga completed between Tērbatas and Skolas streets

Traffic has been fully restored on the section of Dzirnavu Street in Riga between Tērbatas Street and Skolas Street, following more than a year of reconstruction. The works renewed the roadway and pavements, added a bike lane and new pedestrian crossings, and included landscaping, Riga City Council, the capital's municipal authority, reported.

How the works progressed

Construction began in spring 2025 and was carried out in several stages. The street was first rebuilt between Tērbatas and Brīvības streets, and work then moved on to the section from Brīvības Street to Skolas Street. The junction of Dzirnavu and Tērbatas streets was rebuilt at the same time.

The works were complicated by the dense network of underground utilities in Riga's historic centre and by conditions discovered during construction. Before the street itself could be rebuilt, SIA "Rīgas ūdens" also had to carry out work on its utility lines.

What has changed

The new bike lane separates cyclists from pedestrian traffic. The municipality says pedestrians, cyclists and drivers now have more clearly separated zones. Surfacing materials of different types and colours were used along the section to visually distinguish the roadway, bike lane and pedestrian areas.

To improve pedestrian safety, new crossings were installed near the "Galerija Rīga" shopping centre and at the junction of Baznīcas and Dzirnavu streets.

Beds with low plantings were created at junctions, and green islands were set up in pavement extensions and in parking and bicycle-stand areas. The municipality explains that the plantings are positioned so as not to restrict vehicle movement and to keep junctions clearly visible.

Part of a wider cycling link

The rebuilt section forms part of a wider cycling connection intended to link the cycling infrastructure of Skolas Street with the Salu Bridge, the area around Riga Central Railway Station and the cycling infrastructure of Vilhelma Purvīša Street. The municipality says this is meant to create a better-connected cycle network and improve mobility in central Riga.

The construction contract for the Dzirnavu Street rebuild is worth 477,941.39 euros excluding value added tax (VAT).