The first state of construction of the new Rail Baltica bridge over Daugava River will cost nearly EUR 20 million, as the media were informed by European Railway Lines (EDzL) board chairman Kaspars Vingris on Friday, the 9th of February.
He also said the first stage of construction work provides for the installation of two pillars on the right bank of the Daugava River. The first stage of related construction work will need to be completed within almost two years.
EDzL representatives said it is also planned to construct a 140 m long span structure.
At the same time, commenting on the costs of the new bridge over Daugava River, Vingris said that after the first stage of construction work, the portion of the bridge that will follow past the pillar in the water all the way to Mūkusalas Street, which is approximately 1 km of bridge, will likely receive EU funding of approximately EUR 70 million.
Commenting on when the bridge could be completed, Vingris said everything will depend on available funding.
“If we receive the funding of the 10th project of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) announced for the construction of the new bridge, it means that within three years we can build the bridge as a ready-made structure. It could be made accessible to pedestrians and cyclists so they can make it to Zaķusala or Mūkusala,” said Vingris.
The company also notes that Rail Baltica railway bridge over Daugava River will be 1 km long with two European standard gauge lines (1 435 mm), as well as pedestrian and cycling lanes with multiple access points.
The new bridge is planned to start at Maskavas Street, cross Daugava River, Zaķusalu, Maza Daugava, and conclude on Mūkusalas Street. It is also added that on a European scale, the bridge is quite unique because, taking into account the railway loads and the technical solutions of the project, the height of the span structure is relatively small in relation to its length.
As the construction Rail Baltica’s Riga Central Railway Hub continues, construction is performed by BeReRix and supervision of construction work is provided by Egis-Deutche Bahn, the company notes.
LETA previously reported that Latvia has submitted seven projects for improvement of transport infrastructure to the Connecting Europe Facility project selection procedure. This includes Rail Baltica project.
Initially the costs of Rail Baltica project were estimated at EUR 5.8 billion. However, the sides involved in the implementation of the project mentioned multiple times that these costs have growth significantly since then. A portion of the costs is covered by the European Union. Rail Baltica is planned to be opened up section by section starting with 2028 and ending with 2030.
Also read: Riga TV tower’s reconstruction planned for next year; costs may go above EUR 30 million
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