The Chair of the Urban Development Committee of the Riga City Council, Edgars Bergholtz, will propose creating a coordination working group in the Riga City Council to prepare in a timely manner for the repairs of the Cable-Stayed Bridge and to mitigate its potential impact on urban traffic, residents, and business activities.
"Repairs to the Cable-Stayed Bridge cannot be left to chance. We need to seriously prepare for this situation right now, because it is clear: when the repairs to the main state bridge begin, a crisis will start in the city. Therefore, I urge the institutions responsible for planning and organizing traffic, as well as civil protection issues, to create a coordination working group and develop specific scenarios for the repairs of the Cable-Stayed Bridge," emphasized Bergholtz.
He points out that there are still many unanswered questions, which raises concerns among politicians, residents, and entrepreneurs. Therefore, a clear action plan is necessary, along with data and forecasts on how the repair work will affect traffic flow, public and emergency transport, as well as business activities.
The working group should include representatives from the Department of External Space and Mobility of the Riga Municipality, the Department of Urban Development, Rīgas satiksme, municipal and state police, and civil protection experts. The city administration should oversee the work.
As the committee chair notes, one of the first tasks of the working group should be to conduct detailed modeling of traffic organization and the movement of residents.
"There are currently no clear answers to the question of what consequences partial or complete closure of the Cable-Stayed Bridge will bring. It is necessary to assess how traffic intensity will increase on other routes, what the impact on adjacent streets will be, and how to prevent traffic jams," explained the committee chair.
It is also necessary to develop an emergency action plan during the repairs, providing for the routes of public transport and emergency services. If necessary, additional solutions for traffic organization should be assessed.
Considering that the repair work will affect business activities in Kipsala, the nearby Pardaugava area, and the territories adjacent to the Cable-Stayed Bridge, entrepreneurs whose activities are within the influence zone of the repairs will be asked to provide information on the potential impact of the work on their business. This will help the municipality assess possible support scenarios and solutions.
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