Traffic jams near Riga's Vanšu Bridge spark debate over upcoming reconstruction

Traffic jams built up around the Vanšu Bridge in Riga on Monday morning, and a local resident shared his experience on the social network Threads: the four kilometres from Pārdaugava to the city centre took him about 30 minutes. The post triggered a discussion about traffic in the Latvian capital and the planned reconstruction of the bridge, which could significantly affect thousands of drivers in the coming years.

Discussion online

The author explained that he drives this route every weekday morning to take his children to school, but had never experienced a situation this bad. The stretch from the Spice shopping centre to the National Theatre took roughly half an hour.

Commenters were divided. Some said congestion exists even without roadworks and that the bridge itself is not the main problem. Others suggested public transport, trains or cycling, while the author replied that not every area is easily reached by tram, trolleybus or bus. One commenter proposed a charge for entering central Riga, and a representative of a carpooling platform urged people to share cars.

What is actually happening

The current restrictions are not linked to the reconstruction of the bridge itself, which has not yet begun. Riga City Council reported that from 19 to 28 October the section of Pils Square from Krišjāņa Valdemāra Street to Torņa Street is closed because of Torņa Street works, so drivers cannot exit the bridge towards Pils Square. Until 5 November, traffic is also restricted on the 11 November Embankment between the Vanšu Bridge and Bīskapa Gāte, where a cycle path is being built.

Reconstruction plans

In January the Riga municipality signed a contract for designing and building the bridge, worth 69.8 million euros excluding VAT. Under the latest plan, riverbank reinforcement is due in the first half of 2027, followed by reconstruction of a section of Krišjāņa Valdemāra Street, with work on the bridge itself starting in late 2027 and finishing in the second half of 2029.

In September Riga mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs announced he wants to build a temporary bridge for private vehicles, with one lane in each direction. Its cost is estimated at around 20 million euros. Deputy council chair Māris Sprindžuks doubts it can be designed and built so quickly, while Urban Development Committee head Edgars Bergholcs says its value must first be proven. Economics Minister Viktors Valainis previously estimated that fully closing the bridge could cost Latvia's economy about 700,000 euros a day.