Construction companies promise end to roadworks chaos

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Construction companies working to renovate two of Riga main thoroughfares simultaneously have promised to finish most of their tasks by the end of August.

The works on Barona iela (street), Brivibas iela and Lacplesa iela have been the chief topic of conversation among Riga residents for months, with exasperation giving way to a perverse pleasure in recording the various (sometimes literal) pitfalls of the projects and instances of the same pieces of road being repeatedly dug up.

There has even been a Twitter account founded asking the question: "Is Barona iela ready?" on a daily basis and recording the inevitable answer: "No" along with pictures of the latest construction efforts.

Vitalijs Reinbahs, the head of the Riga City Council's Transport Department, was suspended from his job Tuesday as pressure on mayor Nils Usakovs to to sort out the mess grew.

According to Usakovs, a decision on dismissing Reinbahs from his job will be taken in the near future. Meanwhile Usakovs himself made an appearance at the construction sites to demand a speedy conclusion to the works and winning assurances that would be done by August 31 in most cases.

Construction companies involved in reconstruction of several street sections in Riga are determined to complete the project on schedule, the companies' representatives told the LETA newswire August 17.

Road construction company A.C.B. board chairman Valdis Lejnieks said that all street repairs would be done on time, although they had begun later than planned, and regardless of unfavorable weather conditions.

Roadeks CEO Uldis Klapers also said that the weather did have an impact on the street renovation project, as some jobs could not be done during the rain that has fallen in profusion recently. "Yes, you can tear things down, but you can't build anything when it's raining," he stressed.

He said that repairing those street sections that were to be renovated by the beginning of September would be finished on time, as the schedule provided for delays caused by rainy weather.

Construction companies are not to blame for the current situation when pedestrian movement on several streets in Riga is very difficult or nearly impossible, Usakovs, leader of the opposition Harmony party, told reporters.

Lejnieks added that residents would have to put up with the reconstruction work for some time yet. "Some three weeks are remaining, and people always have to put up with something. I don't believe that the organization of the project was not right in some way - to build something, you have to remove what was before it," he said.

When asked if finishing the project on schedule, with the deadline for several street sections being August 31, could have an effect on quality, Usakovs replied that if he had to choose between the deadlines and quality, the latter would be preferred and the particular deadline could be postponed a few more days.

Usakovs also presented detailed information on schedules for each ongoing street renovation project.

As reported, several sections of roadways and pavements on Brivibas Street, Lacplesa Street, and Krisjana Barona Street are being reconstructed this summer.

 

 

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