The Kazbei bridge on the outskirts of Vilnius, registered as a cultural heritage, whose reconstruction has been long awaited by the local community and the capital's drivers, will finally be repaired. Its capital repair work is undertaken by the Sustainable Urban and Infrastructure Development Company "YIT Lithuania", having won Vilnius city municipalities announced competition. The Kazbej bridge, preserved by the initiative of the local community, will be adapted for safe and convenient transportation. The value of the project works is over 1,12 million. euros.
On the outskirts of Vilnius, in the Paneriu district, the 36-meter-long Kazbei Bridge over the Vokė River was built at the end of the interwar period, in the 4s of the last century. It was repaired after the Second World War, but the structure was badly affected by corrosion. Part of the metal structures crumbled, the Kazbei bridge lost its durability, so in 2018 the Vilnius municipality announced demolition works. Due to the state of emergency, it was decided to dismantle it and build a new one. However, at the initiative of the community, the bridge was included in the list of Cultural Values, car traffic was restricted on it.
“However, motorists continued to use the bridge to bypass congestion, which was unsafe. We will modernize the Kazbej Bridge, while maintaining its authenticity, we will ensure all the necessary security measures to ensure quality communication for local residents," says Kęstutis Vanagas, the head of the YIT Lietuva company.
Embankment supports will be repaired, wooden and steel structures will be strengthened, transitional plates to strengthen the bridge, sewage disposal and drainage networks will be installed. During the reconstruction, the old wooden floor will be replaced with a new one made of impregnated oak planks.
The Kazbeyi Bridge is included in the List of Cultural Values, so its management is subject to the requirements of the Heritage Protection Regulation. Metal trusses and bridge accesses will be factory repaired and restored to authentic original condition.
During the repair of the Kazbeyi Bridge, a temporary 24-meter-long pedestrian bridge and a 130-meter-long pedestrian path will be installed so that pedestrians can travel safely. After the reconstruction, the bridge will have two-way traffic with traffic priority for those coming from VA Graičiūnas street. Vehicle weight will be limited to 5 tons and height to 3 meters.
Renovation works will begin in early May and are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. The design works of the reconstruction were carried out by the company "TEC Infrastructure".
Having started the seasonal renovation works of the country's communication infrastructure, "YIT Lietuva" continues the maintenance works of 22 kilometers of the capital's streets. It will also carry out repairs on 7 road sections in Western Lithuania, manage the section on the road Pirčiupiai - Jašiūnai, carry out capital repairs and install a pedestrian and bicycle path on the road Šiauliai - Palanga, in the section from 137,09 to 141,79 km. Also in the 5 km section on the road Kaunas - Jurbarkas - Klaipeda (222-227 km). On this road, the company will also repair the section from 191,68 to 195,4 km.
