Latvian authorities have started designing a network of six communication towers and access routes along Daugava River on the Latvian-Belarusian border, as BNN was told by Valsts nekustamie īpašumi (VNĪ) board member Jeļena Gavrilova.
The objective of the third stage of infrastructure development project is to create a strip that is modern and convenient for the State Border Guard and helps them maintain the state border along a 20 km line located in the vicinity of Daugava River.
“Technological solutions are the most important factor here, because we will not be erecting a fence. Instead, we will have a patrol route along the riverbank that will allow border guards to move near and on the river,” says Gavrilova.
She adds that the communication towers are part of the smart state border guard monitoring system that was created in Latvia in order to ensure effective state border defence and protection of national security interests. The location of the towers was further clarified during the project development process. Their number also went up from four to six.
VNĪ reports that construction of the towers and access routes could start in a couple of months,
in spring. Currently, the design procedure is accompanied by preparations for the expropriation and deforestation of the land plots necessary for the construction of related infrastructure.
Latvian state company Latvijas autoceļu uzturētājs submitted a project for the construction of the tower network and access routes for a price of EUR 3.1 million. A contract based on “design and build” principles was signed with this company.
All related construction work should be completed by October 2024, VNĪ stresses.
The budget of infrastructure construction on the border is planned at approximately EUR 3.6 million, which includes EU funding of EUR 2.77 million.
The contract for the construction of a 16.7 km-long patrol road and the completion of five bridges was signed with Vianova LLC for a price of EUR 5.8 million, VNĪ adds.
Construction of patrol roads is planned to be completed in Q1 2025.
VNĪ reminds that last year Latvia completed the construction of a permanent fence along 112 km of the Latvian-Belarusian border. Infrastructure construction work continues along the border. All this work can be completed during winter, the company explains.
A 33.5 km patrol strip is planned along the open water section of the border. Construction of a fence is set to commence in the coming weeks. Design work is coming to a conclusion along these sections. Currently experts are working on the outline of the route and deforestation of territories.
Fence construction is planned to be completed by July 2024.
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