Residents question flood barrier plans in Liepaja
Tuesday 22nd September 2026 on 18:01 in
Latvia
LSM reports that Liepaja plans to build a 1.5-kilometre flood barrier at a cost of about 4 million euros to protect homes and streets near Liepaja Lake from flooding. Residents fear the project could worsen conditions in some areas.
The project is still being designed, and the Liepaja municipality invited residents to a meeting to hear their objections and consider possible changes.
Residents living near the lake often deal with mud, flooded yards and streets. One resident, Kristaps, said heavy rain leaves roads with deep holes that are difficult to drive through, while cars are constantly covered in dirt and dust.
Another resident, Uldis, said the city needs the barrier because water levels are rising.
The project includes a barrier with a road, a carriageway, pedestrian and bicycle paths, and lighting. It also calls for improvements to the sewage system and the construction of a pumping station.
According to Dina Tapiņa, deputy head of the Liepaja City Council’s Project Implementation Department, the barrier would also help protect the lake from pollution caused by the possible flow of rainwater and sewage into it.
Construction is estimated to cost about 4 million euros. The municipality would provide 600,000 euros in co-financing, with the remainder covered by European funds. However, the municipality expects the final cost to be higher because design work has shown that the soil is less stable than anticipated and will require additional reinforcement.
The main concerns raised by residents involve the barrier’s height and its effect on daily life. Some residents recalled that water levels on private properties increased after an earlier street renovation. One homeowner said they once had to remove about 150 litres of water from a basement.
Several boat cooperatives are also located in the planned barrier area. The municipality says their operations will not be affected, but land tenants have calculated that they could potentially face losses of several thousand euros.