Start of Vanšu Bridge Reconstruction Could Slip by a Quarter or Two

Repair work on the Vanšu Bridge in Riga could begin one or two quarters later than planned unless several significant issues are resolved, according to the road-traffic portal iAuto.lv. The bridge works will affect traffic in the capital, so any change to the schedule matters to residents and businesses alike.

Positions of the city and the state road company

The city of Riga hopes to keep the intended deadlines and start the work on time. Latvian State Roads (“Latvijas Valsts ceļi”), the company that manages the state's roads, warns that building a temporary bridge this quickly may not be possible. That means the original timetable could prove unrealistic if the temporary solution is not ready in time.

Concerns from business owners

Business representatives point to the price of traffic jams that both Riga residents and the economy as a whole could pay during the repairs. In other words, delays on the roads could cause losses not only for drivers but also for business activity.

What remains unclear

The available information does not specify which exact issues are still unresolved or when work would begin if it is indeed postponed. All that is known is that the possible delay is estimated at a quarter or two, while the city continues to hope for the original schedule.