Construction works as part of an ambitious project to integrate the European rail infrastructure Rail Baltica into the infrastructure of Riga city centre will be launched at the end of January. In order to ensure safe and convenient traffic in the vicinity of Riga Central Station, three junctions will be rebuilt by the end of the year and modern pedestrian, cycling, and public transport infrastructure will be built.
The aim of the project ““Integration of the European Railway Infrastructure Rail Baltica into the Infrastructure of Riga City Centre” is to ensure safe and convenient movement for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport in the area adjacent to Riga Central Station, thus, contributing to the development of the station’s multimodal public transportation hub as a Baltic mobility facility.
“The construction of Rail Baltica gives Riga the opportunity to rebuild sites that have long been in need of improvement to make them convenient for people and also modern. The spacious area around Riga Central Station, i.e. up to the bus station and the embankment of Daugava, including the public space around Riga Central Market up to Puškina Street, will be rebuilt this year, almost entirely transforming this part of the city. A somewhat isolated part of Riga will be transformed into an environment that will be fully integrated into the city’s structure. This is not a distant vision, but a reality as construction works will be started in the coming weeks and are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. Like any construction works, this will cause temporary inconveniences, but I hope that the contractor will skilfully organise all types of traffic during the renovation works, avoiding as much inconvenience as possible for the residents and visitors of Riga. This is a very important investment for Riga, both in terms of the city’s image and financially, as almost EUR 30 million is being invested, the vast majority of which is European funds,” revealed the Deputy Chairman of the Riga City Council Vilnis Ķirsis.
The construction area covers the whole of the Ģenerāļa Radziņa Embankment from 13. janvāra to Jēzusbaznīcas Street, and also the areas adjacent to the bus station and Riga Central Market. Several intersections will be reconstructed in this area, i.e. the intersection of Ģenerāļa Radziņa Embankment, 11. novembra Embankment, and 13. janvāra Street, the intersection of Ģenerāļa Radziņa Embankment and Turgeņeva Street, the intersection of Ģenerāļa Radziņa Embankment and Puškina Street. In addition to the intersections mentioned above, the intersection of Timoteja Street and Turgeņeva Street and the intersection of Gogoļa Street and Gaiziņa Street will also be reconstructed.
The project will include a complete reconstruction of Ģenerāļa Radziņa Embankment, including all underground and other engineering communications, i.e. external water supply and sewerage networks, gas supply systems, electricity supply and distribution networks, etc. The heating networks will also be replaced in Gogoļa Street. Afterwards a full street structure will be built along the entire length of Ģenerāļa Radziņa Embankment. The cycling path will be repaved along the entire section, and a pedestrian–cyclist ramp will be built to connect Maskavas Street with the planned Rail Baltica railway bridge across Daugava. Safer mobility solutions both for pedestrians and cyclists, and also the improvement and greening of the environment are planned as part of the project throughout the project territory. The pedestrian tunnel of Gogoļa Street near Riga Central Market will be transformed into a bicycle parking area. Along Maskavas and Gogoļa Streets, the project also provides for the reconstruction of tram and trolleybus overhead lines. Two bridges across the city canal – at Maskavas Street and Ģenerāļa Radziņa Embankment – will be reconstructed as part of the project. Construction works will also take place next to the city canal, near the former location of the shopping centre “Titāniks”. A staircase, ramp, and a quay will be built to provide access to the canal quay.
Following the conclusion of the Riga City Council’s tender for the development of construction plans and construction works on a “design and build” basis, the contract has been concluded with the winner of the tender, i.e. RBBL, a joint venture of three companies: SIA “Binders”, AS “LNK Industries”, and SIA “Nordes Būve”. At the moment, the development and approval of the construction projects have come close to the finish line. Construction supervision will be carried out by SIA “Firma L4”.
The project “Integration of the European Railway Infrastructure Rail Baltica into the Infrastructure of Riga City Centre” is implemented within the scope of the Activity 6.1.7.1 “Reconstruction of the Support Infrastructure Related to the Rail Baltica Project” of the Specific Objective 6.1.7 “Enabling a Multimodal Transport System” of the operational programme “Growth and Employment” of 2014–2020 European Union funds programming period. The total budget for the project amounts to EUR 28 million. The Cohesion Fund accounts for the largest share, i.e. EUR 23.8 million, while local government and State budget subsidies amount to EUR 4.2 million.
Information was prepared by: Kaspars Līcītis – Project Coordinator at External Communication Division of Riga City Council Communication Department, e-mail: kaspars.licitis@riga.lv