Government allocates 577,759 euros for storm damaged roads

Latvia’s government has allocated 577,759 euros to the Transport Ministry to repair state roads damaged by heavy July rainfall in Talsi and Ventspils municipalities and restore safe traffic, LSM reported.

The Transport Ministry said intense rainfall on July 20 and 21 washed out road surfaces, damaged culverts and affected other road infrastructure at several locations, creating risks to traffic safety and road use.

The regional state road P128 Sloka to Talsi was particularly badly damaged. Its carriageway was washed away and a culvert was damaged, forcing the closure of the road section.

State road operator Latvijas Valsts ceļi estimated that 577,759 euros would be needed to repair the damage. The funding will come from the state budget programme for unforeseen events.

Construction of a temporary bypass for the damaged section of the Sloka to Talsi road began in Talsi Municipality in August. All road damage is expected to be repaired by the end of the year.

The heavy rainfall flooded areas in Talsi and Ventspils municipalities and damaged municipal and state roads. In Talsi Municipality, the Dursupe mill pond overflowed, flooding surrounding areas and washing out local roads. The Sloka to Talsi regional road was completely severed. Weather observation stations in Stende and Ventspils recorded roughly a month’s normal rainfall in one day.