The infamous unfinished construction in Riga will be preserved — likely for four years 0 8

"The goal of preservation is to ensure the safety of this part of the bridge in such a condition that, when construction resumes, the element remains suitable for further use," explains the builder.

And what about the risks? Will this method not reduce the strength or safety of the support after 'unpreservation'?

There is no such thing as zero risk. It doesn’t exist in life. Right now, there is no clearly defined date when the unpreservation of the support may begin.

First of all, this is related to the availability of funding, and the second reason is that the Riga part of the route is currently not included in the first phase of the Rail Baltica project. The main focus is on constructing the main line, which means that the construction of the bridge will likely return, at best, after 2030.

"If funding becomes available, we can resume construction; it would be good to progress at least in parts, even with small spans. That would be wonderful," added Dzelme.

A representative of Rail Baltica emphasized that regular monitoring will be conducted on the preserved bridge structure. "Preservation, of course, also means monitoring. This structure will be observed throughout the entire preservation period to see if there are any changes, as there is still a cantilever, and materials can 'wear out.' Therefore, special methods are applied to maintain the stability, integrity, and suitability of the structure in the future," he explained.