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The contract for the reconstruction of A. Meškinis bridge near Kaunas has become evffective – the repair of one of the most intensive bridges over the river Neris will soon begin

2022 11 08

The contract for the reconstruction of the middle bridge over the river Neris (A. Meškinis bridge) near Kaunas has become effective. Under the contract signed by the SE Lithuanian Road Administration (hereinafter – the Road Administration), the bridge located on the section of the highway A1 Vilnius-Kaunas-Klaipėda from the kilometre 99.03 to the kilometre 100.47, also the overpass over Jonavos street and the accesses of the bridge must be repaired within 23 months from the entry into force of the contract. It is planned that the work on the bridge will start this year and will be completed by the end of 2024.

The value of the work of this contract is 68.37 million euros including VAT.

“The reconstruction of this second A. Meškinis bridge marks another big step for us towards ensuring less traffic congestions for both the residents of Kaunas and all other drivers and that road users do not have to waste their time. In the coming years, we will pay close attention to the repair of bridges in Lithuania. Currently, there are 73 bridges and overpasses in poor condition in the road network. We want to repair up to 7-10 bridges every year”, – says Mindaugas Tarnauskas, Vice Minister of Transport and Communications.

According to Remigijus Lipkevičius, head of the Road Administration, the bridge will undergo substantial reconstruction, and it will also be widened to separate transit traffic from the local one and thus ensure traffic safety. After the reconstruction, the middle bridge will be for transit traffic only. During the reconstruction, traffic in the direction of Klaipėda will be diverted on the new (northern) bridge.

After the reconstruction of this bridge, there are plans to reconstruct the remaining third (southern) bridge over the river Neris. Upon repair of all three bridges, it will be possible to implement the final stage of the project of Islandijos road, that is, to repair the road section between Biruliškės intersection and Jonavos Street.

The entire project of Islandijos road includes the construction of a transport hub at the shopping mall Mega and at Sargėnai, of A. Meškinis (Kleboniškis) bridge and of a new bridge over the river Neris, construction of a new overpass over Jonava street and the reconstruction of the nearby section between Biruliškės intersection and Jonava street.

After the implementation of the entire project of Islandijos road, different flows will be separated, that is, transit transport will be separated from local transport, the traffic volume and safety will increase, also, this will allow to save countless hours that drivers now waste in traffic jams.

The said bridges near Kaunas over the river Neris, which stretch on the highway A1 Vilnius-Kaunas-Klaipėda between the kilometre 99.03 and the kilometre 100.47, are the most intense in Lithuania. It is estimated that on some days the traffic on this road section, which also includes the said bridges, from the Biruliškės intersection to Via Baltica reaches up to 78 thousand cars.

The Road Administration reminds that this spring, this spring, a new bridge (northern) and an overpass over Jonava street were also built next the two old bridges over the river Neris. Another project was also completed nearby on the highway A1 Vilnius-Kaunas-Klaipėda – the Giraitė intersection, which is part of the Via Baltica project, was reconstructed.