The entire 7.2-kilometer line is planned to be restored by the end of this year, divided into four stages of construction. Municipal transport company Rīgas Satiksme forecasts that the transport movement will not be significantly slowed.
“There will certainly be temporary stops. This means that there will be a poster at the stop that this stop is closed, moved 50 meters back or forth. There will be no huge restrictions on road transport, [..]” explained Ainārs Karlsons, project manager of the construction company Binders.
The project would cost €22.5 million. A substantial majority, 85%, is covered by the European Union's Cohesion Fund.
Rīgas Satiksme promises that by the end of the year, accessibility to the 7th tram route will be improved. It will be more convenient for mothers with prams, people with disabilities, and elderly people to board.
The low-floor trams are scheduled to start running around Christmas. If it is not finished, it will certainly happen at the beginning of next year, said Karlsons. Further significant changes are expected on tram route 7: the line is to be extended to Višķu Street by 2026.
"It's all going to create a very beautiful, visually pleasant and appealing 7th tram route line throughout. The coverings will be changed, there will be new cobblestone, grasslands, and greenery in some places. The junction of Daugavpils Street with Maskavas Street will be transformed altogether. You won't be able to recognize it. We already have a visualization that we see and hope for a very successful outcome of the project.
"At the moment, people don't know where to go, where the car should turn. It will be arranged in a very beautiful way that everyone can understand, so that this intersection is not dangerous," said Jānis Golubevs, member of the Board of Rīgas Satiksme.
The competition for the performance of the works received three tenders from which the lowest contract price was offered by one of Latvia's leading road construction companies, CBF SIA “Binders”. The total amount of the contract concluded is EUR 22.4 million without VAT. Five tenders were received for construction supervision and will be carried out by BaltLine Globe. The total amount is EUR 27 300 excluding VAT.
