Riga to spend €12m on road repairs this summer

Take note – story published 6 years ago

Riga will spend €12m to repair wide stretches of the capital's chief streets including Brīvības, Valdemāra, Elizabetes, Stabu, Dzirnavu, Merķeļa and others this summer. The way roadworks are organized have already faced criticism. 

Works have already started on Brīvības which will be repaired from the VEF bridge to Lāčplēša st. 

Riga mayor Nils Ušakovs told Latvian radio June 6 that most of the planned repairs will be finished in September.

"Traffic jams are inescapable, and it's clear that both public and regular transport will be slower during these months," said Ušakovs. He said additional parking spots have been set up so that locals can park and go to the city center using public transportation.

Meanwhile new bike lanes are to be installed only next year. 

The way the roadworks are being run has already faced criticism from the Pilsetacilvekiem.lv urban design website, which noted traffic jams have already started after most central lanes on the Brīvības st. crossing with Matīsa st. were closed.

Pilsetacilvekiem.lv estimates 82% of Rigans prefer to walk, cycle or use public transportation, and argues that streets should become exclusive to public transportation during repairs to reduce congestion.

Last year locals and opposition parties at the Rīga City Council repeatedly voiced frustration over the slow pace of roadworks taking place on Rīga's main streets, particularly Kr. Barona street in central Riga. 

The erratic roadworks were topped off by an investigation by Latvia's anti-graft office - the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau - over the council's tender for reconstructing Barona street.

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