It is predicted that the condition of these structures in the country will deteriorate even more rapidly in the near future.
“Via Lietuva” 2025-2028 on the priority list is the repair of bridges and viaducts in critical condition. The company is speeding up internal processes and taking all possible measures to find additional financing and contractors who would undertake reconstruction of not only roads, but also more complex structures, i.e. bridges and viaducts.
In 2024, the company continues particularly important bridge reconstruction projects, including: the reconstruction of the A. Meškini bridge, the bridges over Dubys and Nevėžis, located in Raseiniai and Kėdainiai districts. renovation, reconstruction of the worst bridge in Lithuania over the Krunas in the Kaunas region.
Sad consequences may await
Without paying the necessary attention to bridges and viaducts, they can become emergency, that is, we will be forced not only to limit, but also to ban traffic on them, says Marius Švaikauskas, CEO of “Via Lietuva”.
“Although we plan to repair 30 bridges and viaducts in the country this year, 15 bridges have been added to the list of bridges in bad condition during the year alone. In the last five years, the number of bad bridges has increased by almost 60 units. It is predicted that the degradation of the bridges will only accelerate in the coming years – both due to the increased traffic intensity and the age of the bridges,” says the manager of Via Lietuva.
Almost all the bridges included in the list of bridges in bad condition are more than 60 years old, while at the time of their construction, the service life of the bridges was 50-60 years. In addition, all these bridges were built according to the technical construction regulations of the time and fixed traffic flows at that time – which have fundamentally changed.
The country’s road infrastructure is an important part of defense security and a necessary element, so bridges directly determine the safety of not only road users, but also the entire country.
During this year, “Via Lietuva” plans to repair 30 bridges and viaducts in the national road network. In 2023, the number of repaired bridges and viaducts reached 18, a total of 105 bridges and viaducts in bad condition will be repaired in Lithuania from 2020. For comparison, in 2018, less than 10 units were arranged in Lithuania. of these important road infrastructure structures. This year, it is planned to allocate 71 million for the maintenance of bridges. EUR, last year these investments amounted to EUR 58.8 million. EUR, 2022 – 25.5 million EUR, 2021 – 14.8 million EUR, and in 2018 – only 6.6 million euros.
Sustainable funding is required
Aging and degrading bridges are a global problem, and growing investment in them is an inevitable reality for every country.
“In order to improve or at least maintain the condition of bridges and road infrastructure that reflects public expectations, it is important to ensure sustainable financing, as the condition of bridges and overpasses directly determines the safety of road users. In order to fix the deterioration of bridges and to control the increase in the number of bridges in poor condition, a total of 71 million is planned to be allocated to bridges and their repairs this year. Eur”, says M. Švaikauskas, CEO of Via Lietuva.
All bridges, viaducts, flyovers, tunnels on roads of national significance are maintained according to the list of structures in bad condition that is compiled annually by “Via Lietuva”, which is updated after each year’s expert inspections of the condition of the bridges. Although priority attention has been given to bridges and viaducts since last year, the scope of maintenance of these structures depends on the funding allocated to the Road Maintenance and Development Program. In total, about 590 million would be needed to repair bridges in bad condition in Lithuania. EUR, and to repair all the country’s bridges to a satisfactory condition – about 1 billion. Eur.
Due to limited funding possibilities, temporary measures are applied on some bridges in order to eliminate risks to the safety of road users – traffic restrictions: the carriageway is narrowed, cars are directed to the central part of the bridge, vehicle weight restrictions are introduced. However, this is a temporary solution to ensure the safety of road users. Condition assessment inspections of bridges where additional and temporary traffic restrictions are introduced are carried out more often, if it is noticed that the condition of the bridge continues to deteriorate – traffic on these bridges may be closed.
This year, “Via Lietuva” will invest a record amount – 927 million in the development of roads of state importance. euros. The company’s investment budget for this year is 587 million. EUR 185 million of Road Development and Maintenance Program (KPPP) funds. the amount of temporary bank solidarity tax, EUR 163 million. support from the structural funds of the European Union.
The company “Via Lietuva” takes care of more than 21,000 km of state roads, more than 1,500 bridges, viaducts, tunnels and more than 2,000 km of pedestrian and bicycle paths. The company aims for the country’s road infrastructure to be constantly developed, updated and modernized, to create added value for the state, its residents and to become a positive change and a visiting card for the country’s guests.
#Lietuva #bridges #bad #condition #increased #year #Business
