A month ago, Lithuania was shocked by the news that the main bridge leading to the city collapsed in Kėdainiai. As it turned out, this bridge was already known to be in an emergency condition. There are two such bridges in Vilnius: one has already started to be repaired, and the municipality is still preparing for the renovation of the other.
Valakampiai and Kazbei bridges are identified by the municipality as possibly in an emergency condition. It is true that car traffic on the Valakampiai bridge is not stopped and continues, but with certain restrictions. Vilnius city municipality hopes that the bridge will be renovated in the coming years.
"Traffic on the Valakampiai Bridge is moving, but it will be closed from 2021. restricted in February - the weight of cars driving on the bridge is limited, and the first lane in both directions is reserved for public transport only. Currently, the reconstruction project of Valakampiai Bridge is being completed, it will be submitted for expertise, and then the procurement of contract works will be announced. It is expected that the reconstruction will be completed this year", says Gabrielius Grubinskas, Vilnius city municipalities Media relations specialist.
The other one - the Kazbeyi Bridge - is also in an emergency condition, but car traffic was banned here back in 2018. Pedestrians and cyclists can still cross the bridge. The municipality already started repairing the bridge at the end of last year. The bridge is planned to be renovated in a few years.
At the moment, the car overpass on Eišiškių highway is also being repaired. It will be repaired later this year.
The municipality aims to ensure the safety of all Vilnius residents so that similar situations like the one in Kėdainiai do not occur in the future. For the time being, Vilnius residents can remain calm and drive and walk on the bridges calmly - experts constantly check the condition of the bridges and if there is a threat - they remove it or look for solutions to solve the problem.
