Municipalities limit local bridge repairs to essential work

Municipalities are largely able to carry out only the minimum necessary repairs on their bridges because of limited budgets, LSM reported. Municipalities own around 1,000 bridges across Latvia, most of them built in the 1960s and 1970s.

The bridges came under municipal responsibility after Latvia restored its independence. Repairs and new construction require substantial funding, while local governments face many other priorities.

In the village of Mūrmuiža, the Putniņi Bridge over the Miegupīte River is one of three bridges in the Brenguļi, Kauguri and Trikāta administrative association due to be repaired.

Association head Jānis Fūrmanis said the planned work would focus on maintenance rather than a major reconstruction. Bridge inspections identify three levels of work: minimum, medium and major repairs.

“We are starting with at least something,” Fūrmanis said, adding that major repairs cost at least 100,000 euros, while the work on the Putniņi Bridge is expected to cost about 40,000 euros. The association has allocated more funding to bridges this year and plans to spend less on roads.

Five bridges in Valmiera Municipality were repaired last year, including two in the Burtnieki administrative association. Association head Kristīne Pūce said priority was given to bridges important for economic activity.

She said bridges on rural roads were essential for residents’ daily travel and for agricultural machinery, which can be very heavy. Another bridge repair is planned in the Burtnieki association this year, while three more bridges are at the design stage.

The State Audit Office warned about the critical condition of municipally owned bridges around five years ago.