Economy Minister Viktor Valainis believes that traffic across the Daugava must be maintained during the reconstruction of the Cable-Stayed Bridge. According to him, the complete closure of one of Riga's main transport arteries would cost the country's economy approximately 700,000 euros per day. In an interview with the LETA podcast "Politicians! What Was That Even?" the minister stated that he has already reviewed the cost estimates for a temporary crossing and intends to discuss this matter with the mayor of Riga. However, he did not specify the exact amount needed for the construction of such a bridge. In Valainis's opinion, the state should financially support the Riga City Council to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow during the repairs. This is not only about the convenience of drivers. Thousands of residents, public transport, and freight transport use the Cable-Stayed Bridge daily, so its complete closure could lead to additional time and business costs. The minister also suggested not renting a temporary bridge but purchasing it for state ownership. After the reconstruction is completed, the structure could be used for repairs of other bridges in Latvia, and if necessary, included in state material reserves for civil protection and defense needs. According to Valainis, similar modular bridges have already been used during repair works in Salacgrīva and Daugavpils. In his opinion, this shows that such a solution has already been implemented in practice. Meanwhile, preparations for the large-scale reconstruction of the Cable-Stayed Bridge continue. The winner of the tender was the supplier consortium "Vanšu tilts," which proposed to carry out the design and construction work for 69.8 million euros excluding VAT. After reviewing a complaint from the second participant in the procurement, a contract with the winner has already been signed. The work is expected to take several years. In 2026, up to 6.7 million euros is planned to be allocated to the project, in 2027 up to 42 million euros, and in 2028 another up to 35.76 million euros. The project includes not only the replacement of the road surface but also a comprehensive update of the structure itself. It is planned to replace all stays, update their protective shells, restore barriers, and create separate zones for pedestrians and cyclists. The reconstruction will be one of the largest for Riga's transport infrastructure in recent years. At the same time, the issue of organizing traffic during the works remains one of the key concerns, as it will determine how seriously the repairs will affect the city's life and the economy's functioning.
