In continuation of the construction of Rail Baltica bridge over Daugava River in Riga, the constriction of the bridge’s first support pylon commenced in March 2024, as confirmed by BeReRix construction company representatives.
The company reports that the pylon structure’s construction process will be done from a barge, using special equipment. Divers will be involved in the first stage of the construction process.
The company notes that in March, the work to clean the bed in the bridge support area was started, adding that the Daugava River still contains the structure of the temporary bridge built after the war, as well as various other sunken elements.
The first bridge support pylon in Daugava River will be built from a barge – the builder BeReRix will carry out the construction of a rectangular groove wall structure simultaneously with the drilling of piles, which will reach the dolomite layer. After that, a massive slab will be built in the riverbed between the groove walls to prevent water pressure on the grid.
The next state of the construction process will include the creation of a dry environment for the bridge support pylon. Water will be pumped out using special equipment and water pumps. After that it will be possible to commence the construction of the support pylon.
All this work is planned to be completed by the start of autumn.
The company notes that the distance between the new and existing railway train will be between five and ten metres. To ensure the stability of structures during the construction process, BeReRix has installed a monitoring system in the area – sensors that will be monitoring the main load-bearing structures of the existing bridge 24 hours a day and report movement or vibrations that could be generated during the construction work.
Construction work will not interfere with free ship and boat movement on Daugava Riga. Nevertheless, movement will be limited within the construction zone, the construction company adds.
LETA previously reported that the Rail Baltica railway bridge over Daugava River will be approximately 1km long with two European standard gauge (1 435 mm) tracks. The bridge will also have a pedestrian and cycling lane with multiple access points. The new bridge will start at Lastadija Street, cross the Daugava River, Zaķusala, Small Daugava, and end at Mūkusalas Street.
Rail Baltica’s construction in Riga’s central hub is done by BeReRix. Construction monitoring is provided by Egis-Deutsche Bahn. 81-85% of the project’s funding is provided by the European Union. The remainder is provided by the Latvian state budget.
As previously reported, BeReRix combines Belgian construction company Besix Group, Latvian Rere būve and Italian Rizzani de Eccher to implement the design and construction of the Riga Central Railway Station complex, new European gauge tracks and railway bridge over the Daugava River, embankment and adjacent infrastructure.
Rail Baltica project, during which various problems with meeting deadlines and using funding have already surfaced, provides for the creation of a European standard gauge railway line from Tallinn to the Lithuanian-Polish border, so that it will be possible to connect the Baltic States with other European countries by means of a single railway line. In the Baltic States, it is planned to build a new 870-kilometer-long European gauge – 1 435 millimeters – railway line with a maximum train speed of 240 km/h.
Initially it was planned for costs of Rail Baltica to reach EUR 5.8 billion. However, the sides involved in the project have mentioned multiple times that the costs are significantly up. Rail Baltica is planned to be opened section by section between 2028 and 2030.
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