We have exciting news from Latvia, because our teams working at the Rail Baltica Riga Central Station project celebrated an important milestone last week. In the presence of several media and representatives of the client, the construction of the railway bridge over the River Daugava was officially launched. In addition, construction of the central station building is advancing with the 3rd roof arch installed as well last week. What a week!
1-kilometre-long new railway bridge
Last Friday, February 9, the BERERIX consortium, of which BESIX is part, officially launched the construction of the new railway bridge across the Daugava river during a press event. The new railway bridge will be about one kilometre long and 17 metre wide. In addition to railway infrastructure, it will also provide pedestrian and cycling lanes with multiple access points, significantly improving access to the Riga city centre.
The railway bridge will be built parallel to the existing bridge and will include two tracks that are complying with the European rail network standard of a 1.435 mm track gauge. Works will start with the realisation of two pillars on the right bank of the river (opposite of where the station is located). Depending on the schedule and available funding, construction of the first pillar in the water should follow this spring. In total, 15 pillars will be constructed for the bridge.
The Rail Baltica railway bridge is quite unique on a European scale. Considering the railway loads and the technical solutions of the project, the height of the span structure is relatively small compared to its length. Also, it will be a reinforced concrete bridge, which will allow it to be built with architecturally slim lines, without visually altering the Riga skyline or obstructing the existing bridge’s arch structure – one of Riga’s landmarks.
3rd roof arch installed
While works are only kicking off at the Daugava River, works on the central station further in Riga’s city centre are flourishing. Last week, the third steel arch for the station’s roof structure was installed. In total, the structure will consist of eight of such arches, which are made up of thousands of steel tubes, each one a three-dimensional filler grid interconnected by steel nodules.
We wish our teams in Latvia all the best with the construction of the impressive railway bridge and with the successful completion of the station’s roof structure!
