Parliament urges Riga council to open temporary bridge before Vanšu Bridge repairs begin
A Saeima committee spent two hours on Tuesday discussing Riga City Council's plans for a temporary bridge over the Daugava during repairs to the Vanšu Bridge. Lawmakers urged the council to have the temporary crossing open before the Vanšu Bridge is closed.
On Tuesday, September 22, a Saeima committee held a two-hour discussion on Riga City Council's plans to install a temporary bridge across the Daugava River to keep traffic moving during renovation work on the Vanšu Bridge.
The discussion revealed that opinions on the temporary bridge proposal are divided even within the ruling coalition of Riga City Council itself. Municipalities surrounding Riga have also voiced concern, given that closing the Vanšu Bridge could increase traffic pressure and create difficulties for residents and businesses in the wider region.
By the end of the session, Saeima representatives called on the Riga council to ensure the temporary bridge is completed and open to traffic before the Vanšu Bridge is shut down for major repairs. Such sequencing would aim to prevent additional disruption to the flow of traffic in and around the capital.
No specific timeline was given for when repair work on the Vanšu Bridge is set to begin, nor was a detailed update provided on the construction progress of the temporary bridge. However, the tone of the discussion suggested that readiness levels remain low at this stage, and further coordination between the Riga council, the Saeima and neighboring municipalities will be needed to resolve the outstanding disagreements.
