Riga expects 53 snow days this winter; additional funding provided towards snow-clearing efforts

Riga City Council has allocated EUR 7.3 million towards pedestrian walkway maintenance this winter, as announced by Riga City CEO Jānis Lange at a press-conference held on Friday, the 8th of November.

This amount was reserved based on the forecast of 53 snowy days this winter. He admitted, however, that the forecast was based on prior experience and weather conditions may yet change and it may be required to add corrections to estimates and funding.

Lange said he believes the municipality is ready for winter. For the first time in winter, the municipality plans to carry out central walkway cleaning on all streets owned by the municipality. In turn, owners of the real estate will have to ensure the cleaning of driveways, entrances and courtyards.

Information about the areas that will be cleaned in a centralised manner will be available on the municipality’s website “riga.lv”, in the “Ziema” [Winter] tab.

Lange also mentioned that parking restrictions will be imposed in many parts of Riga. This is done to make street cleaning easier.

Work is underway to establish a special phone hotline, so that residents are able to report problems with streets and walkways. Currently this option is available using 8000 1201.

Lange invited residents to be understanding and keep in mind that there may be traffic difficulties in the event of heavy snowfall, stressing that clearing the snow may take some time.

He told LETA that he plans to maintain the practice of granting motorists so called “blizzard tickets” in the event of heavy snowfall. These tickets allow car owners to use public transport services free of charge if they present their driver’s licence.

According to the information provided by the External Communication Division of the Riga City Council, “Hagberg” LLC will ensure the maintenance of 1 065 km of streets using at least 40 maintenance units, and the municipality will ensure the maintenance of 162 km of streets in the historical centre and its protection zone with 26 maintenance units.

This year, too, residents will be able to receive 50 kg of sand free of charge. The Department of Outdoor Space and Mobility Maintenance Department has provided 300 tons of coating material for both distribution to residents and daily maintenance of the municipality.

This year, the maintenance of street in Kurzeme district and Zemgale suburb will be carried out by the association of suppliers “Roadeks un Lau”, in Latgale suburb and Central district – the association of persons “Eco Baltia vide” LLC and CBF “Ļ KO” LLC, in Vidzeme suburb and Northern district –“Vizii Urban” LLC, but the maintenance of bridges after the results of the negotiation procedure will be carried out for a certain period of time by “Rīgas tilti” LLC.