Nearly Half a Million Euros Needed to Repair Roads in Talsi Area

Repairing all damage to the state road network in the Talsi area after the heavy July rains will require nearly half a million euros. This week, Latvian State Roads (LVC) is preparing a price inquiry for the development of a new technical solution for the reconstruction of the culvert and road section on the P128 (Jūrmala–Talsi) highway. The design and construction work are expected to take four to five months, meaning the section could be restored by the end of this year. Total costs for this section are estimated at approximately €400,000.

LVC reports that all local washouts and breaks on local gravel roads affected in the Talsi area have now been eliminated. These works have provisionally cost up to €70,000, and the final expenses will be clarified upon completion. However, the local road Pastende–Iliņi–Spāre (V1385) near Iliņi remains closed due to flooding. The regional road Jūrmala–Talsi, which suffered the most damage in the rains, also remains closed, as the damage cannot be repaired with routine maintenance. To restore traffic, a temporary bypass will be built within the next two weeks using culverts from state reserves. The work will be carried out by AS "LAU Infra grupa", which maintains state roads in the region.

LVC bridge engineers have evaluated options for restoring the culvert and road section. They concluded that preserving the existing culvert, built in 1987, is not technically or economically viable—its reinforced concrete elements are in poor condition and have shifted unevenly due to floodwaters. As previously reported, on July 20, rainfall in Talsi Municipality exceeded 74 mm, just 4 mm short of the monthly norm. The intense rains caused the Dursupe mill pond dam to break, flooding the surrounding area and washing out dozens of road sections, including the Jūrmala–Talsi road. Public buildings in Talsi and Pastende were also flooded.