To improve environmental accessibility, ensure faster tram movement and safer traffic, intensive construction works have begun on the section of tram route 7 from Centrāltiargus iela to the final destination Ķengarags. Active construction works will take place throughout 2023.

Deputy Chairman of the Riga City Council Vilnis Ķirsis: “Public transport in Riga is undergoing a revival and becoming the backbone of our city’s traffic. Tram route 7, which has begun capital reconstruction and adaptation to low-floor trams, is another important artery in creating a convenient, accessible and modern public transportation system for passengers. Trams will not be stopped during construction, passengers can continue to use them; however, constructors consider that there should be no deviations from the planned work schedules – construction must be completed in a high-quality and timely manner, so that the new improvements are available to passengers in full as soon as possible.”

“Convenient, fast, and safe tram travel is one of our top priorities. To achieve this commitment, major improvements to the existing tram infrastructure are needed. Tram routes must be modernised to ensure mobility for every passenger and that city residents and visitors choose to travel by tram more often. The construction works will cause some temporary inconvenience for us and for passengers, but we cannot achieve improvements without such works. We have already started major construction work on tram route 5, as well as at the junction of 11. novembra krastmala and 13. janvāra iela. Next year in Riga, after a break of several years, we will all have multiple upgraded tram routes”, says the Member of the Board of Rīgas satiksme, Jānis Golubevs.

The following works will be done on the section of tram route 7 from Centrāltirgus iela to the final destination Ķengarags:

• reconstruction of the contact system structures with partial replacement of existing supports and, where necessary, construction of new supports, as well as reconstruction of the overhead contact system to ensure the operation of trams equipped with both pantographs and contact bars;
• reconstruction of the low-voltage cables powering the contact system along the entire route, with connections to the Rīgas satiksme substations at Abrenes iela 13, Ķengaraga iela 3A, Fridriķa iela 2 and Aviācijas iela 1C;
• reconstruction of tram tracks in the section of Maskavas iela from Centrāltirgus iela to Turgeņeva iela, incl. construction of two new stop platforms and reconstruction of the track structure at the intersection with Turgeņeva iela;
• construction of boarding-disembarking and stop platforms in the section of Maskavas iela from Turgeņeva iela to Dienvidu tilts, as well as the improvement of stop platforms and the reconstruction of the track structure in bus stop areas;
• reconstruction of tram tracks at the intersection of Maskavas iela and Fridriķa iela, providing for the construction of appropriate track structures for the turning manoeuvre for entering/departing to/from the tram route 3 depot at Fridriķa iela 2;
• reconstruction of the track structure in the section of Maskavas iela from Rēznas iela to Ogres iela;
• reconstruction of the track structure at the intersection of Maskavas iela and Slāvu iela (opposite the building at Maskavas iela 257B), providing for the replacement of reinforced concrete slabs;
• reconstruction of stop platforms, improvement and renewal of tracks in bus stop areas in the section from Ķengaraga iela to the final destination Ķengarags, as well as improvement of Dienvidu tilts bus stops;
• installation of traffic lights and adjustment of signals to improve tram traffic on route 7;
• tram traffic safety improvement measures at the intersections of Maskavas iela with Ķengaraga iela and Prūšu iela.

As previously reported, three proposals were received for the works on the section of tram route 7 from Centrāltirgus iela to the final destination Ķengarags, adapting it to the parameters of a low-floor tram, of which the lowest contract price was offered by one of Latvia’s leading road construction companies, CBF SIA Binders. The total amount of the contract is EUR 22 479 218.97, excluding VAT.

Construction supervision will be provided by SIA BaltLine Globe, ensuring that the quality and scope of the works are properly checked and documented, and that the works are carried out on time and in accordance with the agreed schedules. The company submitted the most economically advantageous proposal within the framework of the procurement procedure for a total amount of EUR 27 300 excluding VAT. A total of 5 proposals were received for the construction supervision.

The construction supervision will be carried out by an association of persons consisting of SIA BRD projekts and SIA REM PRO. The total amount of the contract is EUR 88 600, excluding VAT. The construction supervisor must supervise the authentic realisation of the construction project (both individual parts of the construction project, their mutual correspondence and the content of the construction project as a whole) in nature, preventing arbitrary deviations of the construction participants from the construction project approved by the Riga City Council Urban Development Department, as well as violations of binding laws, regulations and standards during the construction works.

The construction works are co-financed by the European Union Cohesion Fund within the framework of project No. 4.5.1.1/22/I/001 “Adaptation of Riga Tram Infrastructure to Low-Floor Tram Parameters” (hereinafter – the Project). In addition to the reconstruction of the infrastructure of tram route 7, the project also includes the adaptation of the infrastructure of tram route 5 from the junction of Slokas iela and Jūrmalas gatve to the final destination Iļģuciems, as well as the reconstruction of the junction of 11. novembra krastmala and 13. janvāra iela to the parameters of a low-floor tram. The total cost of the Project is estimated at EUR 55.2 million, while the Cohesion Fund co-financing amounts to 85% of the eligible costs, i.e., EUR 38.78 million.

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