Residents of Bieriņi and the Marupe region will have to live with traffic jams for a long time after the closure of the overpass on Altonava Street. The Riga City Council reported that the construction of the new bridge is planned to begin only in 2027, and it will not open before 2028.
The closure of the overpass on Altonava Street has been one of the most painful transport problems for residents of the southwestern part of Riga for several months. Every working morning, drivers from Bieriņi and the Marupe region lose dozens of minutes in traffic jams on their way to the city center, writes nra.lv.
It has now become clear that the situation will not change quickly. The Riga City Council reported that the design of the new overpass is still ongoing, with necessary expertise expected to be completed only by the end of this year, and the dismantling of the old structure and construction of the new facility will not begin until early 2027.
The opening of the new overpass is expected in 2028.
The old bridge over the Riga–Tukums railway line was closed to vehicles in December 2024 after inspections revealed a dangerous technical condition of the structure. According to the local government, the 115-year-old overpass is no longer capable of safely bearing the load from traffic.
"The existing structure is no longer able to safely withstand the load from vehicles," the Riga City Council explained.
The bridge remains open for pedestrians and cyclists, but vehicles are forced to use long detours. Residents of the Marupe region feel the problem particularly acutely, as this overpass was one of the key entry points to the capital.
The local government emphasizes that creating a temporary railway crossing near the bridge is impossible — such an option has already been assessed by specialists.
The situation with the overpass on Altonava illustrates how painful infrastructure decisions become for the city when an important transport hub is closed for years, and there is no full alternative for residents.
