English
Photo: Viesturs Jūgs
Construction work has been completed on one of the most ambitious transportation infrastructure projects in Riga in recent years - the new traffic overpass connecting Tvaika Street to Kundziņsala. On Friday, October 30 an opening event for the new overpass will take place, and starting November 1, the overpass will be open to traffic, providing a new and direct connection between Kundziņsala and Riga’s main street network.
The new 863.5-meter-long traffic overpass connects Tvaika Street in Sarkandaugava with the public area of Kundziņsala and the industrial zone of the Freeport of Riga. As a critical segment of Riga’s inner bypass, the overpass operates alongside the Eastern Arterial Road and the Daudersala Overpass to efficiently reroute freight traffic onto the city’s main road network. This strategic link significantly eases the heavy vehicle burden on the city center and surrounding residential neighborhoods.
Transport Minister Rihards Kozlovskis noted: “Today marks the completion of a very significant eight-year project. The Kundziņsala section is a major asset not only for Riga but also for all of Latvia, especially for the Port of Riga, as it enhances its competitiveness - the new section improves access to port terminals and industrial areas, as well as facilitates more efficient cargo flow. It should be emphasized that this project has been an example of successful cooperation between the Ministry of Transport, the Riga City Council, the Freeport of Riga Authority, and other partners.”
“The Kundziņsala traffic overpass is one of the largest infrastructure projects implemented in Riga in recent years. Our city needs more projects like this, as they improve residents’ daily lives and create opportunities for economic development. The new bridge will help divert freight traffic away from residential neighborhoods and improve access to the port. I would like to thank my former Riga City Council colleagues who worked on this project – it is clear that such ambitious project cannot be completed within a single term of office. I am also pleased with the cooperation with the Freeport of Riga, where each party has delivered its part so that today we can inaugurate a project that will benefit both Riga residents and business owners,” emphasized Viesturs Kleinbergs, Chairman of the Riga City Council.
“This is a long-awaited and strategically important infrastructure project for the future economic growth of both the port and the entire city of Riga. The development of a new port industrial area - which is easily accessible within the region’s logistics chain - will open up more opportunities to attract investment, consolidating regional cargo, and fostering the development of manufacturing and green energy - all of which will create new jobs and boost Latvia’s overall competitiveness. Furthermore, given the Port of Riga’s role in ensuring military mobility, the new overpass will boost our national security by improving the ability to move military equipment and cargo between the port and the national highway network,” noted Ansis Zeltiņš, the Freeport of Riga CEO.
“The construction of the Kundziņsala overpass has been one of the most technically complex and ambitious infrastructure projects in Riga - we had to overcome a series of engineering challenges during its implementation. We built a more than 860 meters long overpass with eight viaduct structures, including a bridge over the Sarkandaugava branch, whose steel span was assembled using the complex longitudinal sliding method. Carrying out this work required a high degree of precision, professional expertise, and close cooperation among all parties involved in the project. We are proud of our team’s achievements and the joint contribution of all three members of the general partnership “RK link” - Hanza Construction Group, Binders, and Tilts - in creating a significant infrastructure project that will serve the long-term development of Riga and its port. I would like to express my gratitude to the client, our partners, and everyone involved in the construction for their trust and professional cooperation,” emphasized Edgars Vaivods, representative of the general partnership “RK link” and project manager at Hanza Construction Group.
A New Connection Between the City and the Port
The new overpass is a key element of Riga’s inner bypass infrastructure. It will improve traffic flow and allow freight traffic to be routed more efficiently to the Eastern Arterial Road, the Daudersala Overpass, and onward to the city’s and national highway networks.
The new infrastructure is designed for more than just motor vehicles. It features an illuminated pedestrian and bicycle path, specialized lane markings for runners, and three elevators - one on the Tvaika Street side and two on Kundziņsala. A dedicated turnoff has also been provided for access to the Kundziņsala residential neighborhood.
The overpass is strategically vital for the development of the Port of Riga. A direct connection to the city's arterial road network will enhance the speed and predictability of freight transport, improve access to port terminals, and boost the Port of Riga's overall competitiveness. Furthermore, this superior link to the municipal and national transport networks establishes the necessary groundwork for the future expansion of the Kundziņsala industrial zone.
The Port of Riga's checkpoints in Kundziņsala handle approximately 360,000 cargo trucks annually, averaging around 1,000 vehicles per day. With the opening of the new overpass, freight transport can now access the port without passing through the center of Riga, thereby reducing traffic density, congestion, and environmental impact.
Concurrently, Kundziņsala is evolving into a major industrial hub for Riga, hosting multiple logistics and cargo processing companies, including Latvia's largest container handling and logistics center. Ambitious renewable energy projects are also being developed on the island, with plans to invest up to half a billion euros of private capital over the coming years - a move set to create new jobs while boosting Latvia’s economic resilience and energy independence.
Furthermore, the new link will optimize the movement of military equipment and cargo between the Port of Riga’s terminals and the national highway network, reinforcing the port’s role in securing military logistics for both Latvia and its allies.
The overpass will be open to traffic starting November 1
Starting November 1, with the opening of the new overpass, the new port checkpoint at 42 Uriekstes Street, also known as Delta 17, will begin operations. It will feature six lanes of traffic, automatic license plate recognition, digital cargo data exchange, and integration with the control services’ information systems. The Freeport of Riga Authority has invested 1.3 million euros in the checkpoint’s infrastructure.
Until the end of 2026, freight transport will be able to use both the new overpass and Delta 17, as well as the operational Delta 1 checkpoint. Starting January 1, 2027, freight traffic to and from the Kundziņsala port terminals will be routed exclusively via the new overpass through Delta 17.
A technically complex infrastructure project
The main alignment of the overpass spans 863.56 meters. In addition, a 122.61-meter two-lane ramp and a 194.46-meter single-lane ramp have been constructed. The overpass consists of eight viaduct structures that feature a variety of structural design solutions.
The fourth viaduct - a bridge over the Sarkandaugava branch - presented particular complexity. It consists of three parallel, 148.88-meter-long steel main girders with a span configuration of 41.35 + 65 + 41.35 meters. The steel structure was assembled on shore and incrementally launched across the water in stages over a period of approximately four months.
All piers of the overpass are constructed from cast-in-place reinforced concrete. Bored piles were utilized for the foundations, with lengths ranging from 13 to 23 meters depending on the geotechnical conditions, while the piles for the piers located within the river reach approximately 26 to 27 meters.
The overpass crosses three railway tracks, an above-ground petroleum pipeline at two locations, and the Sarkandaugava branch. It is also equipped with a weather station, video surveillance infrastructure, and new traffic lights featuring control units that integrate directly into the Traffic Management System.
The construction of the overpass is a joint project of the Riga City Council and the Freeport of Riga Authority. The total cost of the project is 82.6 million euros.
The general contractor for the construction work is the general partnership “RK link,” which consists of SIA “Hanza Construction Group,” the road construction firm SIA “Binders,” and SIA “Tilts.” The project was developed by SIA “Vektors T,” while construction supervision was provided by SIA “Firma L4.”
For the project activities implemented by the Freeport of Riga Authority, the main contractor is SIA “Asfaltbūve,” construction supervision is provided by SIA “Geo Consultants,” and the main subcontractors are SIA “ROVLAN GROUP” and SIA “ELTORS.”
Information for media
- [email protected], +371 670 308 53
- Freeport of Riga Authority
- Mihaila Tāla iela 1, Rīga, Latvija, LV-1045
