BESIX, as part of the BERERIX consortium, is actively involved in the Rail Baltica project, specifically focusing on the design and construction of the new central station in Riga, Latvia. This project encompasses the development of the central station building, a significant railway bridge over the Daugava River, railway embankments, and associated track works.
Recently, the BERERIX consortium has successfully completed the first phase of construction for the new railway bridge over the river.
Construction of this new bridge began in February 2024 with the installation of two piers on the right bank of the Daugava—a terminal pier on Lastādijas Street and an intermediate pier on General Radziņa Embankment. These were followed by the construction of the first pier in the river, as well as the bridge span crossing over General Radziņa Embankment, connecting the piers.
A Baltic first
During this first construction phase, a 140-metre-long span structure was built. This phase required approximately 117 km (137 tonnes) of prestressing cables and 4,473 m³ of concrete. Notably, the project marked the first use of the balanced cantilever method in bridge construction in the Baltic region. Thanks to this technique, the free-standing span over the Daugava reaches nearly 44 metres without additional support structures.
Since March 2024, traffic beneath the bridge has been partially restricted, with occasional night-time closures. However, the construction work was completed a month ahead of schedule, facilitated by well-planned winter work logistics. At this stage, the first river pier is now connected to the structures on the riverbank, and vehicular traffic in both directions to and from the city centre has resumed beneath the bridge.
Way forward
These works mark the final steps of this construction phase. The connection of the first bridge pier is only a preparatory stage, with the full completion of the bridge planned as part of Rail Baltica’s Phase 1 implementation. The next phase involves the construction of piers and a bridge span from Zaķusala, which will proceed once the necessary funding is secured and Rail Baltica’s construction priorities are finalised.
