Skuodas pedestrian bridge undergoes long-awaited repairs

A long-awaited repair of one of Skuodas’ symbolic structures—a suspension pedestrian bridge in the town park—has begun, LRT reports. The bridge, which connects the islands of the Bartuva River and leads to a health trail, had been restricted for use after its cable fastenings broke last year, causing it to dangerously tilt.

Local residents, including Vladislovas and Onutė, say the bridge is frequently used by the community. “It was really bad, dangerous, of course. But now the repair is happening. People live here, they walk to work, it’s necessary,” Vladislovas said.

Stasys Gutautas, mayor of Skuodas district, explained that an inspection last year revealed a broken cable and extensive corrosion on metal parts. Funds were allocated, purchases were made this year, and repair work is now underway. “We fixed the cable, conducted an expert assessment to ensure safety for residents and visitors. We saw a lot of corroded metal parts, so we planned the budget, made the purchases, and now the repairs are being carried out,” he said.

After the inspection, movement on the bridge was restricted to a maximum weight of 200 kg, allowing no more than three people at a time. The current repairs will replace worn-out wooden planks, while the cables have already been reinforced. The work is expected to be completed by mid-August.

According to Gutautas, suspension bridges like this are rare in Lithuania, with around 80 in total. “This is one of the few cable suspension bridges, and there are very few of them in Lithuania. In Skuodas, it’s the only one, and it’s very much needed by the people,” he said.