On July 8, the government supported the Cabinet of Ministers regulations prepared by the Ministry of Transport (MoT), which determine the procedure for implementing and monitoring the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) investment of 4.3 million euros for the reconstruction of the Unity Bridge in Daugavpils.
“The European Union funding for the reconstruction of the Unity Bridge will provide an opportunity to improve mobility both within the city and in the Latgale region as a whole. At the same time, it is an investment for better connectivity at the cross-border level and will ensure not only civilian but also military mobility opportunities, strengthening security on the Eastern border,” explains Atis Švinka, Minister of Transport.
The Cabinet regulations “For the implementation of the specific support objective “Developing and deploying sustainable, climate-resilient, smart and intermodal mobility at national, regional and local level, including improved access to TEN-T and cross-border mobility” of the European Union Cohesion Policy Programme 2021–2027” will provide an opportunity to attract ERDF investments in the amount of 4.3 million euros for the reconstruction of the Unity Bridge in Daugavpils. The total funding available for the reconstruction of the Unity Bridge is 5 million euros, including municipal funding of 762,994 euros.
The regulations provide that the project is implemented by the Daugavpils City Municipality. The reconstruction of the Unity Bridge is planned to be carried out by 2029. The Unity Bridge plays a significant role in the city's transport infrastructure, as well as for the interconnection of municipalities. The Unity Bridge in Daugavpils is the only transport structure that can be used to cross the river. The technical condition of the bridge is currently poor, which requires significant investments in its renovation.
The planned investments will provide significant benefits to road users, improving both the efficiency and safety of traffic connections. Unified and convenient mobility will be promoted in the city of Daugavpils, connecting the left-bank neighborhoods of Grīva, Judovka, Niderkūna and Kalkūni with the city service center. The benefits will also be felt throughout the region, especially by improving the ability of residents of Augšdaugava municipality to get to Daugavpils. In addition, cross-border connectivity with the national road network and the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) will be improved.
