The agreement for the reconstruction of another section of Via Baltica from Marijampolė to the Polish border entered into force
The agreement of the SE Lithuanian Road Administration for the reconstruction of the section of the A5 Kaunas-Marijampolė-Suvalkai (Via Baltica) main road from 79.00 to 85.00 km entered into force. Construction works on this section are scheduled to start later this year and finish in the autumn of the next year. The value of the agreement is around €66.7 million.
The road section is planned to be reconstructed into four lanes, with connecting and link roads at different levels with the main road, 5 roundabouts, as well as the reconstruction of the existing intersection into a two-level intersection with the national road No. 200 Kalvarija-Gražiškiai-Vištytis. The plan is to reconstruct the existing bridge over the Šešupė River (83.30 km) and to build three new bridges in its vicinity, as well as to install noise barriers with a total length of over 8 km. The reconstruction of the road will include the installation of lighting, surface water drainage, the reconstruction of existing communication, electricity and drainage networks, the installation of intelligent transport system equipment and other traffic management measures.
Via Baltica – the most important strategic road project of this Government and the Ministry of Transport and Communications, and it is encouraging that the reconstruction of the section from Marijampolė to the Lithuanian-Polish border is progressing according to plan. We are making good progress in connecting Lithuania to Poland and Western Europe with a modern, safe and permeable main road,” said Julius Skačkauskas, Vice-Minister for Transport and Communications.
This is one of the busiest stretches of traffic in Lithuania. The average annual daily traffic volume on this 40 km section is up to 10,000 vehicles per day, of which up to 60% is freight transport.
“The agreement for the reconstruction of another section of Via Baltica enters into force. It has been mentioned many times that the modernisation of this road is one of the country’s priority transport infrastructure projects, as Via Baltica main road is a strategically important link for Lithuanian and international transport. Works on this 6 km section are expected to be completed within 10 months. The reconstruction will improve traffic conditions and make the road safer. Safe and comfortable transport on Lithuanian roads is our main goal, which we consistently strive to achieve,” says Remigijus Lipkevičius, the Director of the Lithuanian Road Administration.
Reconstruction works have already started on the Via Baltica section from 72.50 to 79 km. Following the completion of the design, public procurement procedures are expected to start this year for the section from 56.83 km to 72.50 km, while the tender for the contract works for the fourth section of the main road from 85 km to 97.06 km is planned for the first half of 2023.
At the end of 2019, following the Government’s approval of the Specific plan for the reconstruction of the section of Via Baltica (the section of the A5 Kaunas-Marijampolė-Suvalkai road from 56.83 km to 97.06 km), land acquisition procedures and design works have started.
The entire 40 km section of Via Baltica (from 56.83 to 97.06 km) is scheduled for completion in December 2024.
The reconstructed Via Baltica section from Marijampolė to the Polish border will meet international infrastructure safety and traffic management standards. It is planned that by 2030, the entire Via Baltica main road through Lithuania will be reconstructed to meet the traffic organisation and safety requirements of the international road network. Preliminary analysis of pre-design solutions for roads A8 Panevėžys-Aristava-Sitkūnai and A10 Panevėžys-Pasvalys-Latvian border (*Riga) are also underway.