Mayor promises 2027 temporary bridge, but Vanšu plan remains unclear

Riga Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs says a temporary bridge beside Vanšu Bridge, which crosses the Daugava, could be ready by autumn 2027. But the road agency says it is unclear how the proposal fits its existing contract, LSM reports.

Kleinbergs said he had agreed with the bridge manufacturer that the structures could be made by next autumn, two years earlier than the delivery schedule previously outlined by Latvijas Valsts ceļi (LVC), Latvia’s state road agency. He also said the city might not need to buy additional structures.

LVC has a contract with Austria’s Waagner-Biro Bridge Systems for a 360-metre, single-lane temporary bridge, at a cost of 4.935 million euros excluding VAT. By the end of September, 180 metres had been delivered, with the full delivery due by 2029. Riga needs a bridge nearly half a kilometre long with two traffic lanes.

LVC has supported the city’s proposal to buy a temporary bridge. The municipality told Latvijas Radio it would meet with the agency to discuss possible solutions and costs, but did not comment further. Kleinbergs said the Finance Ministry would need to reallocate funding from future years to this year. The ministry says the temporary bridge proposal is still being assessed only by experts.

Repairs to Vanšu Bridge and traffic arrangements have not yet been discussed by Riga’s coalition government.