Riga City Council to form coordination group for Vanšu Bridge repair impact

Riga City Council's City Development Committee is set to decide on August 17 whether to establish a coordination group aimed at mitigating the consequences of the upcoming Vanšu Bridge repair. The initiative was proposed by committee chairman Edgars Bergholcs, who warned that the city must start preparing seriously now to avoid a crisis once repair work on the capital's main bridge begins.

The commission is planned as a temporary body, operating for as long as the committee deems necessary. It will include one council member from each faction, with the chairperson chosen by the commission's own members.

Scope of work

The commission will identify problems related to infrastructure, public space, traffic organization, education, culture, social services, the environment and safety, and will seek fast, effective solutions, including proposals for traffic flow changes and mobile infrastructure. It will assess scenarios involving both full and partial closure of the bridge to car traffic. However, the actual construction work and its technical solutions will remain outside the commission's mandate.

When planning traffic changes, the commission will not treat public transport as the only alternative — it will also evaluate the potential use of the city's waterways as a viable transport option. The body is also tasked with finding support mechanisms for businesses most affected by traffic changes, such as property tax relief or funding assistance.

About the repair project

The tender for the bridge's reconstruction was recently won by the "Vanšu tilts" supplier consortium, which offered to carry out the work for 69.8 million euros excluding VAT. A rival bidder challenged the outcome before the Procurement Monitoring Bureau, but the complaint was rejected, and the municipality has since signed a contract with the winner.

Funding needs are spread across years: up to 6.7 million euros in 2026, up to 42 million euros in 2027, and up to 35.76 million euros in 2028. The project includes resurfacing the roadway, creating separate pedestrian and cycling zones, restoring the railings to their previous height, and replacing all of the bridge's cable stays — weighing a combined 385.5 tonnes — along with new protective sheathing for long-term durability.