Lielirbes Street in Riga experiences heavy traffic throughout the day, while there are still several uncontrolled pedestrian crossings that cross multiple lanes of traffic.
On Thursday, March 26, a pedestrian was injured in an accident at one of these crossings, reports the Degpunktā program (TV3). Fortunately, the injuries were not serious enough to require hospitalization. Local residents have long been waiting for changes in traffic organization.
A Mercedes car stopped at the pedestrian crossing, opposite it was a team from the Emergency Medical Service. There were no visible damages to the dark vehicle, and the driver refused to comment on the incident, however, it is known that the woman allegedly hit the pedestrian right at the crossing.
Medics examined the injured woman on the spot — she had no serious injuries and refused hospitalization. Nearby, the Degpunktā crew spoke with a local resident who expressed his opinion about this uncontrolled crossing, where people have to cross several lanes in conditions of almost constant heavy traffic.
"Once in winter, I helped a woman who was lying here — she was hit by a car, and the driver drove away. People are standing at the bus stop, the woman is lying in the sand, snow, water, she couldn't get up. I am a dance teacher, one of my students was hit here. He ended his career because he had eight fractures. About 100 people have been hit here in 20 years," says the local resident.
Another local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted that he saw a person "fly out of their shoes" after being struck by a car.
"He was flying through the air," says the eyewitness. "Something needs to be done here. I have a small child growing up, and I look at all this with great concern."
The Degpunktā crew has also recorded several serious accidents at this location. One of the most severe accidents occurred last summer when a little girl and a man were injured — they were hit by an 88-year-old driver of a Toyota car. At that time, the Department of Environment and Mobility of the Riga City Council reported that a procurement would be announced for the reconstruction of pedestrian crossings with the installation of traffic lights. The design was supposed to start after the contract was concluded, followed by the implementation of the project. Eight months have passed. Journalists inquired with the department about the progress of the planning.
"This spring, it is planned to start designing infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists on Lielirbes Street from Ulmanis Gatve to the railway crossing on Kalnciema Street. The project plans to equip all existing uncontrolled pedestrian crossings on Lielirbes Street with traffic lights. The procurement for the design has been completed, proposals have been received, which are currently being evaluated within the procurement procedure," said Ieva Grīsle, a representative of the Riga City Council Communication Department.
