The sidewalks in Rīga in winter often resemble patchwork: where one has cleared the sidewalk adjacent to their home perfectly, another has not done it at all. Therefore, the municipality plans to take over the job. The change of order would take the next three years.
“We will develop this service so that the machines are equipped with cameras so that we can check the quality,” Rīga Mayor Mārtiņš Staķis said. The works are planned to be done during the nights so pavements are clear in the morning.
A gradual transition to centralized clearing of sidewalks will start this winter season with the historic center and its protection area. This area is first selected because the city center has a large number of cultural and educational establishments and state and local government services.
It is estimated that the cleaning of all sidewalks adjacent to the city's streets in winter will cost the municipality around €3.2 million per year. The rest of the time, the owners will have to ensure the cleanliness of the sidewalks in the same way as before, including through the collection of leaves and waste.
