In the course of a visual inspection, it was ruled that the bridge over the Zunda channel is in an unsatisfactory condition. An in-depth technical inspections is to follow, which will most likely last up to two months. It will then be seen whether the bridge is safe as it is or must be renovated. Burovs did not mention whether the city would be ready to invest the money in the repairs if needed.
He noted that the bridge across the Zunda channel belongs to no one, and therefore it will be necessary to decide who will be investing in the repairs – the city or the state.
“We've decided today to immediately ban pedestrians from using the bridge. Let it remain a bridge only for [communication] networks. “Latvijas gāze” is planning to extend its networks there, but, of course, they are checking if it's possible at all, if the bridge is safe. There are also “Rīgas siltums” networks. We're closing the bridge, the Traffic Department of the Riga City Council is carrying out a technical inspection, and then we'd need to meet again and arrive at a decision whether small improvements are necessary for pedestrians to use it again or not. But then there still remains the question of who is going to invest in it. Ownership could be assigned either to the municipality or the state,” Burovs explained.
Burovs said that the bridge near the Zasulauks station, two bridges near the Domina shopping center, and three bridges on the outskirts of Latgale are also ownerless. As regards the bridges over railway lines, the Rīga municipality will carry out a visual inspection and then appeal to the Ministry of Transport to commission the Latvian Railways to perform a technical inspection of the bridges.
The pedestrian bridge at the Zasulauks station is by far in the worst condition. Although it belongs to nobody, it has a certain connection to “Rīgas Siltums”. Burovs stated that the bridge has already been closed and the company is going to carry out the technical inspection.
There are two pedestrian bridges in a satisfactory condition – one near the Alfa and the other near the Sky and more shopping centers.
