The Riga City Council plans to gradually bring several city bridges into order. While the fate of the Cable-Stayed Bridge has been a topic of heated debate for many years, the next major project has emerged in the council — the Stone Bridge, the reconstruction of which could cost nearly nine million euros, reports TV3 News. What is its current condition and when might restoration work begin?
The Stone Bridge is one of the busiest transport arteries in Riga, and experts estimate that it needs restoration. The municipal plans include nearly nine million euros for repair work, and an additional 400,000 euros for the development of project documentation.
The action and investment plan reviewed this week by the City Development Committee includes several infrastructure projects. The Stone Bridge is one of the facilities scheduled for reconstruction in the coming years. It was last updated in 1998.
"Depending on the available budget, we could start the design this year, or if that doesn’t work out, then next year. The Cable-Stayed and Stone Bridges will not be repaired simultaneously. The Cable-Stayed Bridge will definitely go first. The main thing is to ensure the movement of public transport. This bridge is not as complicated as the Air Bridge, where the structure itself is very narrow. There is space here to carry out the work in a way that maximally preserves traffic," said Marta Kotello, chair of the Transport and Communications Committee of the Riga City Council.
The municipal plans include not only updating the Stone Bridge itself but also improving the surrounding infrastructure, making it convenient for pedestrians, public transport passengers, and cyclists — for whom a separate bike lane will be provided.
"To prepare the project documentation for such a central and, I would say, complex bridge, it will take at least a year. If we assume that the design will start, say, at the end of this year, then the work on the documentation will last throughout 2027," Kotello said.
Recently, another technical inspection was conducted on the Stone Bridge, during which defects were identified that do not currently pose a threat to traffic safety but could potentially affect the bridge's lifespan in the future.
"What is important for bridges is waterproofing, which is damaged in this bridge. Moisture penetrates through the covering into the load-bearing structures. These are concrete elements, including the coastal reinforcements, which also need to be inspected. It has not been established that the bridge is unfit for use. However, to preserve its durability and continue its operation in the future, certain work must be carried out within the established timeframes," noted Andrey Ur tans, head of the Transport Infrastructure Department of the Riga City Council.
The municipality emphasizes that the Stone Bridge is currently safe for use, and reconstruction will not begin until at least the end of 2028.
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