The BERERIX joint venture, involving BESIX, Rizzani de Eccher, and SIA RERE BŪVE, continues to make remarkable strides in the construction of the Rail Baltica Riga Central Station project in Latvia. After commencing the installation of the arch footings in September, six out of eight have been installed by now. The footings are a vital feature to the central station, as they serve as the foundation for the station’s roof structure.
Installation 8 arch footings underway
At the end of September, BERERIX completed the installation of the first three steel arch footings, weighing between 38 to 41 tonnes each, on the west side of Riga’s future central station. By the end of this week, the joint venture will also have finished the installation of three of these elements on the east side of the station. The final two footings, each weighing around 65 tonnes, will be installed on the south side by the end of November.
Due to the immense size and weight of these arch footings, they can’t be transported to the construction site in one piece. Instead, they are meticulously assembled on-site over several days. To move these colossal structures on site, a special self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) system is employed, which allows for precise movement and placement. Lastly, the task of lifting them into position is entrusted to the largest crawler crane in the Baltic region, emphasising the extraordinary engineering prowess harnessed in this project.
Concreting the concourse and installation first roof elements
The Rail Baltica Central Station represents the most extensive and technically complex portion of the works BERERIX is executing. In September, concreting for the concourse on the third and upper level of the station commenced. The concourse forms the 6,000 m² waiting hall and will include ticket offices, information boards and various other services. Concreting works on this level will continue until November, with a total of 2,900 m³ of concrete being poured.
In the coming months, focus will also be on the concrete paving for the railway track bed on the third floor and the installation of the first elements for the roof structure. The latter will be an impressive operation, as the structure comprises of thousands of steel bars interconnected with steel nodes. It is the framework upon which the building’s roof, reaching almost 30 metres in height, will later be installed.
Scope of works
The BERERIX joint venture is responsible for the design and construction of the Rail Baltica Central Station project. Central part is the central station building, an architectural marvel boasting a long-span steel structure with a vast glazed roof covering 2,100 square metres.
To connect the station with the other side of the Daugava River, the project also incorporates a railway bridge, designed to seamlessly blend with the city's architecture. Lastly, works include the installation of new rails and a new catenary system over a 2.5-kilometre distance within Riga.
The Riga Central Station project is part of the larger Rail Baltica project, which aims to integrate the Baltic States into the European rail network and enhance connectivity between the cities of Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, and Warsaw.
