Kundziņsala Overpass in Riga, Latvia Completed and Opened to Traffic

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 1, the Kundziņsala interchange in Riga, Latvia was officially opened to traffic, connecting Tvaika Street with the Riga Free Port industrial area. With a total length of 863.5 meters, the project has a total cost of EUR 82.6 million. A completion ceremony was held on October 30. Following the opening, freight vehicles can bypass Riga city center and residential areas and enter the port area directly via the bridge.

The structure spans the Sarkandaugava strait, three railway tracks and one above-ground oil pipeline, and connects with the previously built Daudersala overpass, forming a section of the Riga inner ring road. The bridge deck has four lanes in both directions, with supporting sidewalks, bicycle lanes, dedicated transverse markings for running, and three elevators (one on the Tvaika Street side and two on the Kundziņsala side), as well as a separate ramp leading to the Kundziņsala residential area.

Funding comprises EUR 23 million from the state budget, EUR 59.6 million from a state budget loan, and EUR 4.5 million from the EU Cohesion Fund. Construction was undertaken by the RK Link consortium, whose members include SIA Binders, SIA Tilts and SIA Hanza Construction Group. The project broke ground in June 2023 and completed load testing in June 2026. The original completion date was extended to October 8, 2026 due to construction technical conditions, and the completion ceremony was ultimately held on October 30, with traffic opened on November 1.

On the same day, the new port inspection station at 42 Uriekstes Street (Delta 17) was put into operation. Trucks can enter and exit the Kundziņsala port area via the new overpass or this inspection station. Previously, heavy vehicles had to pass through Riga city center and residential areas to reach the port area; the new bridge diverts this traffic to the city's main road network, reducing the traffic and environmental burden on the city center. The Riga Free Port authority had previously noted that the Kundziņsala port area is becoming the new center of the Port of Riga, with cargo terminals, logistics centers and smart manufacturing facilities of at least seven new enterprises expected to be commissioned there in the coming years, and the new overpass is a prerequisite for connecting these facilities to the city and national transport networks.