In Rīga, after a long standstill, the construction of the Kengarags promenade will continue. The beloved walking route for city residents will be extended by two and a half kilometers.
It seemed that this would never happen. Since the beginning of the promenade's construction (under Mayor Nils Ušakovs), Rīga residents were promised that it would connect the city center with Dārzini, allowing them to walk from the train station to the suburbs while enjoying picturesque views of the Daugava River, or to cycle. And a lion's share of the work was done: the promenade with a bike path stretched from the center to Rumbula.
But construction came to a standstill there, as Ušakovs was removed, and the new mayor Stakis was indifferent to the promenade — he was enthusiastically engaged in installing "golden" bollards and designer urns in the city. The municipal government did not want to think about the promenade under Mayor Kirsis either, but it was marred by student crafts — absurd metal structures priced like aircraft carriers. Only now has the current composition of the Rīga City Council finally gotten around to it.
As reported by LSM+, the Department of Environmental and Mobility of the Rīga City Council has issued a project assignment for the design, construction, and author supervision of the bike path section Center – Kengarags – Rumbula – Dārzini. The main problem of the project was the alienation of land for the bike path in the section from Rumbula to Dārzini, and this problem has been resolved.
To be precise, the new section of the promenade will stretch from house 88 on Rumbas Street in Rumbula to Jāņogu Street in Dārzini. Along the entire length of the bike path, 12 new recreational areas and access to water for swimming, lighting and benches, video surveillance, and a system for counting pedestrians and cyclists are planned.
"This connection along the Daugava has long been awaited by both the residents of Salaspils and Rīga residents, as it will provide a convenient and safe cycling and pedestrian connection. It will provide access from the center of Rīga to the Dārzini area, to the hydroelectric power station dam, and further to Salaspils," said Oto Ozols, a representative of the Department of Environmental and Mobility of the Rīga City Council, to LSM+.
Currently, traveling by bike from Salaspils and Dārzini to the center of Rīga is a challenging quest, the portal notes. One has to ride through gardens, along an old runway, and on broken roads. Or along a busy highway where heavy traffic moves at this time.
According to the plan, construction is set to begin next year and will last approximately 9 months. Perhaps by 2027, the bike path will break free from the deadlock in Rumbula.
