Builders start temporary detour around washed-out Sloka-Talsi road

Construction has begun on a temporary detour around the rain-damaged section of the Sloka-Talsi state road in Talsu municipality, LSM reported, citing Latvijas Valsts ceļi.

The detour is being built near Dursupe around the section between kilometres 55.2 and 55.9 of road P128. Earthworks and excavation are under way, while obstructing trees and bushes are being cleared.

The temporary road will have a gravel surface, with traffic controlled by traffic lights to allow vehicles to move in both directions alternately. Two culverts from the state material reserves will be used in the construction.

Traffic on P128 is expected to resume via the detour by the end of August. The work is being carried out as part of routine maintenance and is expected to cost up to 100,000 euros. AS LAU infra is carrying out the work.

The existing road reserve was not wide enough to accommodate the temporary route, so agreements were signed with Talsu municipality and a private landowner to use their land. Once the detour is no longer needed, the culverts will be dismantled, cleaned and returned to storage, while the crushed stone used in construction will be removed.

Engineers are also developing a permanent solution for the damaged section. They determined that retaining the culvert built in 1987 would not be technically or economically practical because its reinforced-concrete elements are in poor condition and were displaced and unevenly settled by the floods.

The damage to P128 is planned to be repaired by the end of the year. If weather conditions are unfavourable, the asphalt surface will be laid next year.

Floodwaters also damaged several state regional roads around Talsu municipality during the night of July 21-22. The total cost of addressing the damage caused by the heavy rains on state roads is estimated at about 600,000 euros.